Juan Robles takes first place.

10-7-2006 -- Consider the annual CoastWeeks Beach Relay Race a reprieve from tough cross-country practices for high school runners and a diversion from road running and marathon training for the winter races.
      Water lapped the shores of Ha' Penny Beach as 21 teams with two runners each competed for the top three sets of medals. Hansel Estephan challenged Jose Reyes for the first mile, but Reyes and Juan Robles of St. Croix Central High School took first place in 25 minutes and 27 seconds. Keith Smith, former Olympian and Pan Am Games bronze medalist, and now coach of the St. Croix Track Club, teamed with Ian Cuffy to take second place in 29:07. Leeward Islands Championships medalists Lester Liburd and Calvin Dascent of the Barracudas Track Club took third place in 29:16.
 
      Up-and-coming sprinter Makiesh Taylor and the top distance runner so far this year, Ninfa Barnard of the St. Croix Track Club, took the first-place medals for females with a time of 32:17. Erica Sweitzer and Theresa Harper -- who had already run eight miles before the beach run, as Harper is preparing for next month's Philadelphia Marathon -- took second place in 36:25. Mirelle Smith, also a St. Croix Track Club coach, and Karissa Cave took third place in 42:07.
      The runners get busy next week with the V.I. Pace Runners/4-H Club Cross-Country Series to run at the University of the Virgin Islands' St. Croix Campus. This year's interscholastic teams will compete for the school championships, as well as V.I. Track and Field Federation Cross-Country Championships, in a four-race series scheduled for Oct. 11, 18 and 25 and Nov. 11.
      The CoastWeeks event, which charges no entry fee, was part of the International Coastal Cleanup week organized by the Ocean Conservancy. Participants in the beach relay annually pick up debris and trash on the beach, record what they pick up and submit the data for analysis.
      "Many of us recall how badly trashed the beach and surrounding area was when we held the first race here years ago," said Wallace Williams, event organizer. "When Barbara Taylor, a former top local runner and triathlete, introduced the Ocean Conservancy project, we took to it. The first time we had two truckloads of trash. Thanks to improved public response to help clean up our beaches and a greater sense of respect for our beautiful environment, today there was no trash!"
     
     The finishers -- male teams:
     
     1.Jose Reyes & Juan Robles 25:27, St. Croix Central High School #1 (CHS)
     2. Keith Smith & Ian Cuffy 29:07, St. Croix Track Club#1 (STX TC)
     3. Lester Liburd & Calvin Dascent 29:16, Barracudas Track Club#1
     4. Eugene Briscoe & Clint Smith 29:38, Barracudas TC#2
     5. Justin Hitesman & Adrian Mootoo 31:43; Barracudas TC#3
     6. Giustino Fyfield & Robert Ventura Jr. 32:00, Barracudas TC #4
     7. Cesar Tapia & Raibin Quinterio 32:01, CHS#1
     8. Jado del Rosario & Ephraim Rodriquez 34:25, CHS#2
     9. Pedro Marinas & Robinson Calmona 35:02, CHS#3
     10. Troy Holloway & Mark Kennedy 36:56
     11. Masai Peters & Malcolm Phillip 38:57, Barracudas TC#5
     12. Kenrick Richmond & Jeleni Peters 41:53, Barracudas TC#6
     13. Christopher Vitalis & Albert Xavier 43:29, CHS#4
     14. Hansel Estephan & Grades Charles 49:16, CHS#5
     
     The finishers -- female teams:
     
     1. Makiesh Taylor & Ninfa Barnard 32:17 STX TC
     2. Erica Sweitzer & Theresa Harper 36:25 V.I. Pace Runners
     3. Mireille Smith & Karissa Cave STX TC#2 42:07
     4. Jessica James & Allison Peter STX TC#3 42:40
     5. Eustacsha Fredericks & Jeanne Harris 48:54, CHS
     6. Roxanne Walters & Naema Jones 53:31, STC TC #4
     7. Varez Richards & Rebecca Rameau 58:26, STC TC

Two fastest runners in the Territory Team-Up to Win Beach Relay

10-8-05 St. Croix, Virgin Islands--The Annual Virgin Islands Pace Runners CoastWeeks Beach Relay at Ha Penny Beach in St. Croix was won by the two fastest distance runners in the territory in veteran George Jules and premier high school runner, Juan Robles of St. Croix Central High School.  Eleven teams of two were at the starting line on one of St. Croix’s most popular beaches.  Jules was the lead-off runner and posted a time of 12 minutes and 23 seconds for first two miles; Robles carried the team to victory with a 11:17 second leg, their winning time was 23:40.  The St. Croix Central High School had four teams in the race with the team of Cesar Tapia and Leonardo Reyes taking second place with a time of 28:39; the third place team and the first mixed team was Keith Smith and Mirelle Smith with a time of 29:08.

The entry-free event was part of the International Coastal Cleanup week organized by the Ocean Conservancy.  Participants in the Beach Relay annually pick-up debris and trash on the beach, record what they pick-up and submit the data for analysis.  According to Wallace Williams, event organizer, “many of us recall how badly trashed the beach and surrounding area was when we held the first race here years ago.  When Barbara Taylor, a former top local runner and triathlete, introduced the Ocean Conservancy project, we took to it.  The first time we had two truck loads of trash, today, thanks to improved public response to help clean-up our beaches and its greater sense of respect for our beautiful environment, today we only have a few small bags of trash to report.” 

The Finishers:
1.George Jules/Juan Robles, V.I.Pace Runners 23:40; 2. Cesar Tapia/Leonardo Reyes, St.Croix Central High School (CHS), 28:39; 3. Keith Smith/Miereilles Smith, Burnley Dragons 29:08; 4. Colin Daugherty/Rachel Witty, Trio We 30:30;  5. Earthla Augustin/Errol Chichester, Guavaberry 32:06; 6. Cid Bennie Ayala/Jochebed Harris, CHS 32:58; 7. Casmona Robinson/Leonard Reyes, CHS 33:25; 8. Larry Williams/Stuart Ketchum, Broken Wheels 35:26; 9. Shelly Matherne/Marie Elise Witmer, Hope In Motion 38:02; 10. Edmondo Octaviani/Jack Branch, Evening Runners 39:18  No time Jose Ramirez/Lisandro CHS?  

The next event on the V.I. Pace Runners Calendar is the 4-H Cross-Country Series (race #1) on Wednesday October 12, 4pm UVI St.Croix Campus.  1 mile elementary, 2 miles jv 3.1 miles varsity and open.

For more information logon to: http://virginislandspace.org or call 340-643-2557 or 340-643-2557

Robles and Estephan
Repeat Beach Relay Win… 

10/9/04 St.Croix, V.I.--Juan Robles, St.Croix Central High School, held off the challenge of veteran long distance runner George Jules in the first 2 mile leg of the CoastWeeks Beach Relay Race at Ha Penny Beach in St. Croix to lead his two-man team to first place in the event for the second year in a row.  His partner, Hansel Estephan, St. Croix Educational Complex High School, widen the gap in the second leg over nine teams.  Their time was 24 minutes and 26 seconds.  The Educational Complex High School Boys team of Gilbert Petrus and Lester Liburd moved into second place on Liburd’s leg to secure that place with a time of 26:34.  George Jules and Earthla Arthur, the St. Lucia Connection was the first place mixed male/female team in 27:41.  John Harper and Theresa Harper, Harper Harriers finished fourth in 28:14; Gabe Weber and Tish Dusich, Tishilicious was fifth in 30:02; Bruce Daugherty and Errol Chichester, Eggshells was sixth in 32:26; Makiesh Taylor and Sanny Eugene, St. Croix Educational Complex High School Girls was seventh in 33:14; Terry Chretin and Mike Dance, Bodyworks was eighth in 33:49 and Louise Stapleton and Stuart Ketchum, Last Train to Boston was ninth in 35:23.  

The next event on the V.I.Pace Runners Calendar is the 4-H Cross-Country Series, UVI St. Croix Campus Wednesday; The West Indies Lab 5 Mile Saturday October 16 at 6 am. For information call V.I.Pace Runners 340-777-0258 or 340-643-2557 logon to: http://virginislandspace.org

V.I. Pace Runners/Coastweeks Beach Relay
Leave Clean Beach... 

                               
Juan Robles & Estapan Hansel                         Jack Branch

10/4/03 St.Croix, Virgin Islands--The Annual Virgin Islands Pace/Coastweeks Beach Relay race for runners on one of St. Croix most beautiful beaches, drew seventeen teams of two for this annual Saturday morning race at sunrise.  Leading the way and taking first place overall were thirteen year old Estapan Hansel and 14 year old Juan Robles, both of John H. Woodson Junior High School (Robles graduated last school year and is now a freshman at St.Croix Central High School).  Just twenty seconds behind and in second place was Troyson Raymond and Daniel Jerrif of Central High School with a time of 25:15.  Right on their heels and third place overall and the first place mixed male/female team, were Earthla Arthur and Billy Bohlke with a time of 25:38. Bohlke, the top middle distance runner in the Virgin Islands and just this week completing his Air Force training and earning a commission as a 2 Lt., led the group all the way with  a 11:05 for his two mile leg up and down the beach. Letitia Dusich and Rachel Witty were the first place female team with a time of 27:32. This event is part of the Annual International Coastal Cleanup project under the international coordination of The Center for Marine Conservation, Ocean Conservancy.

Complete Results

1.Estapan Hansel – Juan Robles 24:55; 2. Troyson Raymon – Dannel Jariff  CHS, 25:15; 3. Billy Bohlke – Earthla Augustin, V.I.Pace, 25:38; 4. Letitia Dusich – Rachel Witty 27:32; 5. Barrymore Berley – Alex Adams 28:10; 6. John Harper – Theresa Harper 28:53; 7.Kamal Russell – Khalia Jacobs-El 29:58; 8. Chris Joseph – Angel Martinez, CHS 30:07; 9. McDonald Taylor – Mackiesh Taylor, Junior Barracudas 30:48; 10. Stuart Ketchum – Errol Chichester, UVI 32:00; 11. Bernard King – Doug Brady, St. Croix Road Runners 33:48; 12. Tesha Keller – David Ziemer 35:23; 13. Elena Shabah – Denise Blanchett, V.I. Pace, 35:58; 14. Cindy Male – Peter Skrivanos, STXRR 37:31; 15. Peter Brown – Charlotte Bodurow 40:19; 16. Jack Branch – Wilfredo Perez 40:26; 17. Nancy Hall – Tim Hall 41:26 

The next race on the V.I. Pace Calendar is the 4H Cross-Country Series on Wednesday October 8 at 4pm at UVI St. Croix Campus.  The race is the first of four races in the series and will feature 1 mile for elementary boys and girls, 2 miles for junior varsity boys and girls and 3.1 miles for varsity boys and girls and open runners. 

For more information call the Virgin Islands Pace Runners 340-777-0258 or logon to: http://virginislandspace.org for an entry form.