The 33rd annual Toast-To-The Captain 8.4-mile Road Race is a tribute to Capt. Teddy Seymour, the first black man to sail around the world alone. He set sail on his voyage during Black History Month from Frederiksted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, on Feb. 24, 1986, and finished in Frederiksted on June 19, 1987. The Black History Month event held on Saturday in St. Croix attracted over two dozen runners, including three of the top ranked runners in the territory.
In Saturday’s race on Feb. 23, Bohlke, now a master’s runner, was up against Juan Robles, the runner would inherit the title, top V.I. long distance runner, from him. The two were together for the first two miles until Robles put distance between them at around the 5K mark. Robles went on to win the race with a time of 5 1:27; Bohlke was second in 54:22; Bridget Klein was the first female finisher and third overall in 55:31.
Finishers Male:
1.Juan Robles 51:21; 2. Billy Bohlke 54:22; 3. Joe Newnon 55:31 4. Randell Nielsen 69:09; 5. Wayne Nichols 70:07 6. Joel Shoy 71:33; 7. Islam Qatoum 71:37; 8. Henry Magalong 73:24; 9. Robb Wolfe 73:58; 10. Kevin Miner 75:17; 11. Steve Nelson 78:08; 12. Kevin Salim 86:57; 13. Paul De Jardins 89:54; 14. Joe Cherkis 1:40.48; 15. James Whitehurst1:43.26
Finishers Female:
1.Bridget Klein 60:42; 2. Megan Lambert 63:51; 3. Amy Roberts 65:511; 4. Esther Ellis 65:53; 5.Julie Sommer 65:59; 6. Ana Gutierrez 70:07; 7. Shari Beshaw 72:09; 8. Kat Brownsdon 72:11; 8. Jessica Carter 75:17; 9. Savanah Logan 75:43; 10. Mercedes Siegle-Gaither 75:42; 11. Allison Janusziewic 78:07; 12. Dulcie Crowther 84:42; 13. Angela Cherkis 2:05.42
Notes:
1. Teddy Seymour was also an All-American Cross-Country and track runner at Central State University in Ohio
2. Teddy Seymour was the 31st black officer, a captain in the United States Marine Corps
3. Teddy Seymour is a Vietnam veteran
4. Many of the runners in the Toast-To-the Captain meet Captain Seymour, who is known to show up and participate in the event that honors him
5. The Toast-To-the Captain 8.4-mile Road Race was conceived by Wallace Williams, a Vietnam era veteran, who has trained and competed with and against his friend Capt. Seymour for over three decades and originated the road race honoring him.
6. The image above is a stylized photograph of Billy Bohlke and Juan Robles when he was a high school runner created by Wallace Williams.