Dec. 30, 2007 — The V.I. Pace Runners 6th St. Croix International Marathon on New Year's Day will feature local runners and runners from around the world.
The 26.2 mile race starts at 5 a.m. at Plaza Extra (west) on Queen Mary Highway. It continues 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.
The race is open to all who are 18 years and older, trained and capable of completing the distance.
The V.I. Police Department, St.Croix Rescue, and volunteers will support the race. The early start is because temperatures are lower.
According to a press release from the Pace Runners, the small field of runners include participants from Canada, Spain, Italy, England, and the United States.
John Wallace, aka Maddog, of Longboat Key, Fla., who has run more than 290 marathons in 87 countries, is in the race. He has run marathons in all 50 states (two times), all 13 provinces and territories of Canada, and on all seven continents.He is the only runner to complete a marathon in every country in Europe.
Topping the field of local runners are Theresa Harper, winner of the race four times and race and course record holder with 3:40.21, and William Bohlke, who finished second last year and holds the race and course record 2:50.25. Steve Burkholder, who won the race in 2005 and finished second in 2006, is back.
Ernest Mitchell, former teacher in St.Croix public schools, is back as is Heidi Snow, second in 2005, and so are Richard Jeanpierre, Charles Martin and Errol Chichester.
The motoring public is requested to respect the runners, as they will be starting in the dark and using public roads.
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 Monday from 10 to noon in Christiansted at the Florence Williams Public Library and a course tour is scheduled at noon.
Top finishers in the race will share $2,600 in prize money. For information call 643-2557.
