The Virgin Islands Pace Runners will stage the 6th St. Croix International Marathon at 5 a.m., on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, in Frederiksted. The 26.2-mile race will start at Plaza Extra (west) on Queen Mary Highway and continue to the Vincent Mason Pool, along the shore to Hamm's Bluff, into the Rain Forest and back to Frederiksted (to and from Hamm's Bluff twice) to finish at the Ann Abramson Pier.
It is open to all who are 18 years and older, trained and capable of completing the 26.2- mile distance. Top finishers in the race will share $2,600 in prize money.
The small field of runners includes participants from Canada, Spain, Italy, England, the United States and the V.I.
For the first time the race course is certified by the Association of International Marathons and Road Races and the International Association of Athletic Federations, making runners who run specified times qualified for the Olympic Games, Boston Marathon, the IAAF World Championships and other major marathons.
Race packet pick-up is 10 a.m. to noon, on Monday, Dec. 31, at the Florence Williams Public Library, Christiansted. There will be a course tour at noon.
For information, call 643-2557, or e-mail: wallacewilliams@msn.com
