Shane DeGannes sprinted to the lead from the start and ran unchallenged, en route to a winning time of 1 hour 25 minutes and 00 seconds, in the race that attracted over 80 participants. Photo: Dean Greenaway/BVIAA

Ruth Ann David, who overhauled three male counterparts, came up .10 seconds short of taking down Meriel Steadman's 2011 course record when she ran 1:34.19 to finish behind DeGannes. Photo: Dean Greenaway/BVIAA

DeGannes sprinted to the lead from the start and ran unchallenged, en route to a winning time of 1 hour 25 minutes and 00 seconds, in the race that attracted more than 80 participants.

David, who overhauled three male counterparts, came up .10 seconds short of taking down Meriel Steadman’s 2011 course record when she ran 1:34.19 to finish behind DeGannes. It was the first time in race history that no records were established in the 13.1 mile race on Tortola’s south coast roads. 

“The goal was just to win,” said DeGannes, who along with David were second in their Oct 6 visit for the NACAC 10K Series race. “My Grandfather, he want me to bring back the masters programme in the Virgin Islands, and that’s where all the emotion came from in the end there. He just passed a couple months and I just wanted to execute his wishes and today, I felt I have done such.”

DeGannes said he wanted to break 1 hr 20 but it was tough by himself. The lead police officer he said was a great inspiration and kept talking to him. “Unfortunately, I did not meet the goal, but I’m still happy with the outcome,” he stated. “The course is a beautiful course. I just got absorbed myself and kind of got lost in the course just site seeing and checking out the scenery,” he explained.

David described the course as wonderful. “I love running here. The course is flat and nice,” she observed. “I haven’t run a half marathon in 2-3 years. The mistake I made was running up one hill by accident, so that cost me the course record. I usually run around 1:28, 1:29 and the fastest I’ve done is 1:24.”

Race Director Kay Reddy said she was delighted with the turnout and how things went.“It was absolutely fantastic event and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force guys did an awesome job, which was also noted by participants,” she said.

Final results; Male;1. Shane DeGannes, 1 hour, 25 minutes, 00 seconds.  2. Maxford Pipe, 1:36.36.   3. James Carr, 1:38.28. 4. Curwin Andrews, 1:42.12. 5. Ravindra Sukhu, 1:43.15.  6. Adrian Dale, 1:43.55. 7. Gregory Wingate, 1:46.15. 8. James Shearman, 1:48.41. 9. Jonathan McCarthy, 1:53.24. 10. Charles Kerins, 1:53.44.

Female:1. Ruth Ann Davis, 1:34.19.  2. Katrina Crumpler, 1:38.28.  3. Sharon Cherry, 1:48.13  4. NiMade Oniasih, 1:54.37. 5. Philomena Robertson, 1:54.59.  6. Kay Reddy, 1:58.26. 7.= Elizabeth Killeen/Rebecca Paull-Rowlette, 2:02.56.  9. Lisa Adamson, 2:08.59. 10. Katherine Hanna, 2:09.45.

Teams:1. Team "Tek Dat", 2:01.02, (Julien Johnson, Marvin Flax, Barbara Pinnock-Smith, Adenike Sicard)  2. Team "Sensus", 2:03.26 (Gillian Plaxton, Natalie Lettsome, Gemma Holmes)  3. Team "Americorp", 2:09.06 (Ghislaine Hoogendijk, Starky Guillermo Ceasar, Pedro Garcia, Celestine Salway)