Feb. 6, 2006 – Juan Robles, a junior at the St. Croix Central High School, won his first Toast-To-The Captain Road Race and became the first high school runner in memory to do so. Robles is the top scholastic runner in the territory in cross-country, road running and middle distance on the track. He is a medal winner at CARIFTA and continues to mature with hopes of moving up to the college level. He was unchallenged Saturday on a difficult course with rolling hills; his time was 51 minutes 49 seconds.
Letitia Dusich, back in St. Croix after a year in New York, returned to her winning ways with a very strong first place finish in 58 minutes 59 seconds and third place overall becoming only the second woman in memory to run the course under an hour.
Richard Jean Pierre was the second place finisher in the race with a time of 58:59; Bob Halk was the third male finisher in 67:40; Mark Kennedy was fourth in 70:22; John Harper was fifth in 71:16; Teddy Seymour was sixth in 73:33; Scott Fricks was seventh in 74:32; and Errol Chichester was eighth in 88:53.
Dusich challenged Jean Pierre the entire race for second overall as only 10 seconds separated them at the finish. Theresa Harper had a strong second place finish in 63:41. Betsy Gladfelter, who has competed for the Virgin Islands national team regionally and internationally, including the World Cross-Country Championships back in the 80's, paid tribute to Captain Teddy Seymour Saturday with a tie for third with Denise Blanchette in 1:42.20.
The race, organized and conducted by V.I. Pace Runners, honors Captain Teddy Seymour, the first black man to sail around the world alone. On Feb. 14, 1986 he set sail from Frederiksted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands on his solo voyage. On June 19, 1987 he completed his trip and landed at his starting point in Frederiksted. The runners enjoy an informal breakfast/award ceremony, compliments of the Captain Seymour, on the waterfront following the race.
For more information, contact VIPR at 643-2557 or logon to: http://www.virginislandspace.org
