Runners take off to start the 2013 series on Tortola
SEPTEMBER 10—The 19th season of the annual Highland Spring College Classic Series will kick off on Saturday in Virgin Gorda.
The 2-miles race begins at 7 a.m. at the Stoutt College Campus in the Valley. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m.
“It’s time to get that excitement up because the series is back,” race director Stephanie Russ Penn said. “The temperature is good as it has been. I’ve had persons emailing and calling. Groups are getting ready to go. Road Town Whole is one of the teams ready and I anticipate that the Service Clubs are getting themselves sorted to see who will come out and potentially bring an end to the long standing run of victories by the Rotary Club of Tortola, or whether they are still going to be unbeatable.”
Penn said she’s looking forward to the participation of schools but have to do some work as they are only opening this week and the communication channels have not been established but hopes the word will get out.
Over the last few years one race had been dedicated as the race for a cause but Penn said after consideration they have deiced to make it every other year. Next year is the series’ 20th anniversary and that will be one of their activities.
“Every now and then like last year although it wasn’t planned, we did do a race that also facilitated a race for cause that was being put on in another location by the BVI Cancer Society,” she noted. “However, we never know what might come up along the way but we are certainly willing to facilitate helping others in the process. But, we don’t have anything specifically slated for this year.”
The Tortola leg of the series will begin on Sept 20 at the Stoutt College Campus in Paraquita Bay. The event begins with the One Mile participants in the U9 division followed by the 2 miles segment for U11-Open and Cross Country teams.
In the last few years, the race has attracted participants from the University of the Virgin Islands and Eudora Kean High School.
“All we ask is that people show up by 6:30 so that they can register and begin racing at 7 a.m.” Penn said.
Other races in the Virgin Gorda leg of the series are scheduled for September 27 and October 18. Races on Tortola are set for September 20, October 4 and 25 with the series finale on November 15.