Road racing rivals, from left, Vincent Fournier, Reuben J. A. Stoby and Julius Farley clashed in the Dive BVI 10K on Virgin Gorda on April 29, 2017 with Stoby coming out on top. Photo: Dean H. Greenaway aka 'The Sportsman'

Maria Mays was the top female in the first leg of the Dive BVI 10K Series on Virgin Gorda on April 29, 2017. Photo: Dean H. Greenaway aka 'The Sportsman'/File

The first of two 10K races in the series takes in the first and tougher half of the Virgin Gorda Half Marathon scheduled for May 27, 2017.

Famous American runner Pre Fontaine once said that “to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” and it seems the trio felt the same way as they held nothing back despite tired legs from the Tortola Torture.

Fournier took the race out and led for most of the way on the climb to Nail Bay with Stoby on his shoulders and Farley a short distance off; however, on the return Farley switched gears and opened up a lead of about 80 metres on Stoby while Fournier began to fall off the pace.

Stoby, however, fought back and reeled in Farley before the final mile and opened up what turned out to be an unsurpassable lead, winning in 44:46.

Farley, who teamed up with Stoby and Rosmond Johnson to break the three-man team record in the Tortola Torture, was second in 46:11, while Fouriner, who was first for males in the individual race of the Tortola Torture, took third in 46:36.

No challenge for Mays

On the distaff side, Maria Mays had no trouble in registering victory. She clocked 55:36, while second place finisher Karen Frazer was timed in 1:00:25. Sarah Harkness was third with a time of 1:00:31.

Female Road Racing Athlete for 2016 Rosmond Johnson found the going tough and had to settle for fifth in a time of 1:05:57.

The second and final 10K of the series is slated for Saturday May 13, 2017.

Results for Dive BVI 10K - Saturday April 29, 2017

Men: 

1) Reuben Stoby, 44:46; 2) Julius Farley, 46:11; 3) Vincent Fournier, 46:36; 4) Jeremy Zuber, 50:47; 5) Paul Mellor, 51:54; 6) Curwin Andrews, 54:38; 7) Colm Rafferty, 54:55; 8) Joseph McIvor, 55:04; 9) Martin Trott, 56:22; 10) Emrol Amsterdam, 57:40; 11) Marcus Hallan, 58:16; 12) Matthew Harkness, 1:00:31; 13) High Wright, 1:01:48; 14) Marlon Felix, 1:02:36; 15) Patrick Ormond, 1:05:31; 16) Adrian Dale, 1:15:54; 17) Tyler Boruff, 1:18:42; 18) Tim Backlund, 1:21:17; 19) Teejay Torres, 1:26:54

Women:

1) Maria Mays, 55:36; 2) Karen Frazer, 1:00:25; 3) Sarah Harkness, 1:00:31; 4) Claudia Ferrari, 1:03:19; 5) Rosmond Johnson, 1:05:57; 6) Jessica Wilson, 1:06:06; 7) Becca Knight, 1:10:34; 8) Mitchelle Jalova, 1:13:18; 9) Jasmine Wong, 1:13:25; 10) Kay Reddy, 1:15:54; 11) Michelle Backlund, 1:21:17; 12) Simpa Ganadillo, 1:25:05; 13) Rovelyn Dimaala, 1:25:31; 14) Nedy Ador Dionicio, 1:26:19; 15) Christina Yates, 2:01:06