APRIL 9—The Dive BVI 10K series got under way on Saturday with Ravi Suku and Maria Mays running to victory in the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively.
It was Mr. Sukhu’s first victory on Virgin Gorda and his first win of the season. He finished the race in 44 minutes and 14 seconds. He beat VG resident Emrol Amsterdam, who crossed the line in 45:11.
“It was very tough, because Emrol is always there on my back,” Mr. Suku said. “I have put in a lot of hard work and I knew I just had to be patient.”
Mr. Amsterdam had a slight lead over Mr. Suku after the turnaround at The Baths, but 400 yards later Mr. Sukhu took control of the race and never looked back as he ran uncontested to the finish line.
Saturday’s race had some rain, which Mr. Sukhu said was refreshing, but made running conditions challenging.
Ms. Mays finished in 46 minutes and 34 seconds, which was good enough for third place overall.
“Last year at the start of the 10k season I was beating Ravi,” she said. “He has come on so much. He is amazing.”
Kathleen Browsdon, who won the recent Dive BVI 5k series, finished in 15th place in the Women’s Division. She was running with her daughter, Mollie, who finished in 14th place.
The first race of the 10k series attracted 31 participants with the majority of them running. The race started from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College campus in Spanish Town and headed east to Speedy’s corner, then to Coppermine Point and to The Baths with the finish back at the start line.
“The course is so hard. I think Casey [McNutt] does it to be mean,” Ms. Mays joked. “It is absolutely beautiful. If it weren’t for the hills, it would be fantastic. There are gorgeous views and it is great to come over to VG for the day.”
The loop is similar to the course that will be used for the VG Half Marathon on May 18. Organiers are hoping the 10k series will help participants familiarise themselves with the course.
Mr. Suku is also planning to compete in the VG half marathon. Last year, he was in “no shape” to run, but Saturday’s 10k helped him prepare.
“I got familiar with the course, the conditions and the environment,” Mr. Suku said.
The next 10k in the series is set for April 27, with the Virgin Gorda Half Marathon and 6-mile Run/Walk challenge slated for May 18.
For more information about running on VG visit: www.racevirgingorda.com
This weekend, the third race of the Blenheim Trust 5K Series continues its tour of Tortola, with the race slated for Carrot Bay at 7 a.m. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. at the Festival Village Grounds.
Final Results:Men: 1. Ravi Sukhu 44:14, 2. Emrol Amsterdam 45:11, 3. Paslo Olarte 48:05, 4. Ezron Simmons 48:54, 5. Zeblon McClean 50:20, 6. Ben Mays , 50:22, 7. Jermain Abrams 52:59, 8. Aaron Seddon 53:00, 9. Luke Plummer 59:06, 10. Jonathan McCarthy 1:01:53, 11. Lance Heisinger 1:14:51,12. Michael Bell 1:23:10, 13. Zoltan Birinyi 1:25:39,
Women: 1. Maria Mays 46:34, 2. Nimade Oniasih 53:50, 3. Berenice Garcia 55:09, 4. Vivian Toro 1:01:00, 5. Kelly McCarthy 1:01:53, 6. AJ Syrett 1:06:39, 7. Casey McNutt 1:06:40, 8. Deborah Bell 1:07:03, 9. Laura Heisinger 1:07:34, 10. Marianne Cave 1:11:56, 11. Tara Murphy 1:15:57, 12. Raynecia Simmons 1:22:50, 13. Christina Yates 1:33:08, 14. Mollie Brownsden 1:41:21, 15. Kathleen Brownsdon 1:41:28, 16. Lavern Gilehurst 1:45:26, 17. Vetricia Baptiste 1:45:38, 18. Shamara Nanton 1:45:38