Road Racing Season Opens With 40 on Virgin Gorda


Reuben Stoby finishing Saturday's Dive BVI 5K Series opener on Virgin Gorda PHOTO: Todd VanSickle

Some 40 souls kicked off the 2016 British Virgin Islands Road Racing season Saturday in the rain on Virgin Gorda, in the Dive BVI 5K Series. The race attracted both Tortola and Virgin Gorda participants.

Reuben Stoby began defense of his Road Racing Male Athlete of the Year honors with a comfortable victory over Julius Farley.

Woman's Road Racing Athlete of the Year Rosmond Johnson, finished third behind Maria Mays and Katrina Crumpler.

"I didn't want to miss the first race of the season and I wanted to get off with a winning momentum nevertheless," said Stoby who's recovering from a cold and covered the course in 18 minutes and 53 seconds. "I started out with a tempo but was relaxed and I noticed that nobody challenged, so I settled in and I'm happy with that."   

Mays, who had Chikungunya at the end of 2014, said it essentially had her off running for a year. She ran with Crumpler for much of the race, before Crumpler suggested she try and catch Zebalon MdLean, who they were chasing. "She sacrificed herself, but I didn't catch Zeb," she said. "But, it was brilliant."

Although there was no registration fee, runners donations which will go to Virgin Gorda Animal Rescue and Control (ARC) was $250.

Final Results. Men: 1. Reuben Stoby, 18:53. 2. Julius Farley, 20:52. 3. Steven Asson, 21:11. 4. Emrol Amsterdam, 21:22. 5. Zebalon McLean, 21:42. 6. Curwin Andrews, 23:00. 7. Charles Kerins, 23:38. 8. Angel George, 25:07. 9. Daniel Starling, 28:44. 10. Michael Gill, 30:36. 11. Noah Fox, 31:14, 12. Anghel George, 32:39. 13. Steve Ellefson, 34:10. 14. Benjamin Moore, 38:06. 15. Nicholas Moore, 38:28. 16. Mark Moore, 38:31. 17. Atlas VanSickle, 40:38. 18. Zoltan Birinyi, 52:46.

Women:1. Maria Mays, 21:44. 2. Katrina Crumpler, 21:54. 3. Rosmond Johnson, 24:01. 4. Anna Kinkead, 25:34. 5. Becca Knight, 26:54. 6. Broadie Faragher, 28:07. 7. Angie Bester, 28:54. 8. Clair Burke, 31:18. 9. Tara Murphy, 33:30. 10. Beth Besom, 34:57. 11. Kelaine Smith, 37:43. 12. Tasia Veenkemp, 37:51. 13. Charlie Bufton, 39:55. 14, Sarah Moore, 40:44. 15. Jenny McConnell, 41:08. 16. Chris Yates, 41:25. 17. Chrissann Nickel, 50:53. 18. Nesha Felix, 50:54. 19. Bernadette George, 51:47. 20. AJ Syrett, 52:45. 21. Collette deJonge, 54:14. 22. Rushell Major, 54:14.