CAY HILL--Thirty-four teams have already registered for the 31at annual Around the Island Relay Race which starts at Raoul Illidge Sports Complex Sunday at 7:00am.
There are youth teams from Milton Peters College, Law Enforcement Teams, running club teams like Dynamics, businesses like Solahart, and gyms like CrossFit. Anguilla’s Black and Good Track Club will be attending this year. The club features strong runners set on taking first place.
“ More team are expected to sign up,” said Susy Piscione from Tri-Sport where teams are registering through to today. “We are hoping for as many as 50 teams.” Individual runners can also contact Tri-Sport too as many teams are still looking for a runner or two.
Like last year, the 2018 Relay features 11 legs instead of ten. The new leg is section 2, a 1.81 run across the Causeway.
Due to the longer course last year started a new course record for fastest time. Intergeneration Runners won with a combined time of 2-hours 21 minutes 53 seconds. Second was SXTreme 1 with a time of 2:30:20. Third place overall was won by the Dutch Marines at 2:33:19.
Last year a total of 27 teams completed the race.
“This year it is important to show are unity with our French side neighbours,” said Frits Bus. “The relay brings everyone closer together.”
Bus is the only runner to have completed all the 30 previous relays and he expects to make it 31 on Sunday. It was Bus and the late Malcom Maidwell that conceived of the relay race Around- the-Island to celebrate St Martin Day St. Maarten.
As in previous years teams must have at least two runners of the opposite sex. This year the first leg must be run by a woman.
The Relay is a charity event with funds distributed on both sides of the island. This year the Relay also makes note of the smoking dump.
“The trophies have been created by Marci Cooke using the theme of upcycling (use garbage to make something nice,)” said Piscione.
Making the race possible are sponsors Alite B.V., CC1, Indigo Green, Philipsburg Pharmacy, Cake House Bakery, Tri-Sport and Island Water World.
