The Virgin Islands Pace Runners invited the public to participate in the annual Olympic Day Run held on Saturday, June 22, at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School track on St. Croix. Runners, joggers and walkers of all ages posted times for their one-mile run/walk in support of the Olympic movement.
Each participant had the opportunity complete a mile at their own pace and did it with the group of their choice.
Walkers started at 5 p.m., led by Kimberly Sylvester, who jogged and walked the mile in 9 minutes 34 seconds; she was followed by Evangeline Gumbs, who finished in 11:58 and Johathan Kariah, who was third in 12:17. There were 18 participants in this group.
The 15-minute per mile group started at 5:30 p.m.; this group was led by Kimberly Sylvester again in 8:58 followed by Altoglacio Straun in 9:51 and Laverne Frederikson in 10:01; there were eight participants in this group.
The 10 minute per mile group started at 5:45p.m.; this group was led by Barthelemy Peter of the St. Croix Track Club/Educational Complex High School in 6:27 followed by Sandro Carpio in 6:36 and Mireille Smith in 6:45; there were 25 participants in this group.
The seven-minute per mile group started at 6 p.m.; Tim Wion ran in 5:42, followed by his son, Tanner Dellett-Wion, in 5:51 and Erik Von Kaenel in 6:38; there were 16 participants in this group. Tim Wion is a former resident of St. Croix, who worked at Queen Louise Home in Frederiksted. He was a top local runner and a top finisher in the Olympic Day Run many times over 20 years ago. He happened to be visiting the island with his family and put the run on the top of his list of things to do.
The six-minute per mile group ran at 6:15 p.m.; the top high school distance runner in the V.I., Malique Smith of the St. Croix Track Club/Educational Complex High School, led the group with a 5:04 mile; Aaron Hamrick of Cincinnati, Ohio, caught Rodney Griffin SCTC/SCHS with 150 meters to go to take second in 5:17, and Griffin was third in 5:21.
Virgin Islands Olympic Committee President Angel Morales participated as the official starter and runner; Ronald Russell, president of the Virgin Islands Track and Field Federation, participated also as official starter and runner.
Olympians present were: Keith Smith, 1992 Barcelona, Olympics 4 x 100m relay; Ana Gutierrez, 1992 Barcelona Olympics Marathon; Ronald Russell Montreal Olympics 100m; and Wallace Williams, Seoul 1988 Olympics Marathon. Morales, Russell and Williams have also functioned as officials, coaches and delegates at several Olympic Games.
Federations represented at this year’s Olympic Day Run: Track and Field, Cycling, Tkae Kwon Do and Triathlon.
Shelene Gumbs, president of the Tkae Kwon Do Federation, assisted with tallying results, and Eugene Phipps, longtime coach and official with Tkae Kwon Do, participated. Keith Smith and his wife, Mireille Smith, are V.I. National Track and Field coaches; Wallace Williams is the founder of the Virgin Islands Pace Runners and the race director for this event since its inception.
Each participant was given a special Olympic Day T-shirt, a special Olympic Day certificate and a V.I. Olympic pin.
Complete results are posted at: http://virginislandspace.org
For more information, contact 643-2557 or wallacewilliams@msn.com
