On a bright morning at Susana Ocasio Park in Gallows Bay, 28 young athletes, ranging from 5 to 13 years old, took part in the annual Great Pumpkin Junior Duathlon. The event, organized by the Junior Tri VI Committee—a subgroup of the Virgin Islands Triathlon Federation—brought together children from four schools, as well as several homeschooled participants. The event was a fun-filled introduction to multisport racing for all involved.
The run-bike-run event was especially memorable for six first-time participants. The Junior Tri VI Committee is always excited to see newcomers embracing the sport, and they were warmly welcomed by the rest of the group.
The 5-6-year-olds were the first to take on the course, which included a 0.25-mile run, 0.5-mile bike ride, and another 0.25-mile run. Hunter Whitworth took an early lead, closely followed by Hanako Sanders and Je’Mahri Clarke. Although Bexley Ivey tried to catch up during the bike portion, Whitworth and Sanders maintained their advantage and finished first in their respective male and female divisions, with times of 9:19 and 10:06.
For the 7-8 age group, the bike leg and second run distance were slightly increased. Hiro Sanders set a strong pace from the start, ahead of Azai Saleem on the first run. Dyce Crawford, who had a late start, managed to catch up to Millie Leo, who was the current leader on the 1-mile bike course. In a thrilling race to the finish, Sanders overtook Crawford and Leo during the 0.5-mile second run, crossing the finish line in 17:11. Leo was the first female to finish, with a time of 18:54.
The 9-11 age group saw some fierce competition, with Dane Whitworth leading after the initial 0.5-mile run. Tuf Donohoo and Riley Lubelt were close behind. Donohoo gained ground on the 1-mile bike ride, overtaking Whitworth, but Whitworth reclaimed his lead on the second run to finish first in 16:57. Caitlin Kuczynski dominated the female division from the start, completing the course in 20:01.
In the 12-15 age group, athletes faced a more challenging course, consisting of a 0.5-mile run, 3-mile bike ride, and 1-mile run. All three competitors in this group were seasoned multi-sport athletes from Good Hope Country Day School (GHCDS). Cole Cullinan led from the beginning and finished with a time of 28:38, followed by Zavier Saleem in second place and David Vaughan in third.
The Junior Tri VI Committee has been hosting events like this since 2010, welcoming children of all abilities between the ages of 5 and 15. Two long-time participants, volunteers Mason Lambert and Kaeden Gleason—who began racing at age 5 and are now high school seniors—were present to offer words of encouragement to Sunday’s athletes.
Every participant received a t-shirt and a pumpkin-themed goody bag, generously sponsored by Tom Peil. Special thanks go to Dulcie Crowther and Megan Mault for baking the treats, and to the many volunteers who ensured the event ran smoothly and safely.
The next event on the Junior Tri VI calendar is the Fall Fling Splash ‘n Dash, a swim/run race, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 17 at the former Chenay Bay.
For more information on multi-sport events in the Virgin Islands, please contact 513-2707.
