March 6, 2005 – Sunday 264 female runners, joggers, walkers, toddlers, skippers, strollers – and even one woman in a wheel chair – crossed the finish line in the 23rd annual Jogger Jam in support of the Family Resource Center's Victim Advocates program.
And it was hot.
First place finisher Kimberly Curtis, 24, said, "I just run to stay in shape."
Curtis, who said she was "sponsored" by Island Symphony dot com, a private charter yacht company, finished the race in 14 minutes .08 seconds, a full 30 seconds ahead of Grace Tuma, 44, who came in second overall in 14:38. In third place overall was Natalie Claus, 23, in a time of 14:37.9.
The popular annual event has been sponsored by the Fruit Bowl in Wheatley Center since 1993, and is a 2-mile run from the Wheatley Center location around the Roy L. Schneider Hospital, past Fortress Self-storage and then downhill on the eastern side of the Sugar Estate Post office and then back around again. It includes a few hills and no shade, but attracts hundreds of women, young and old, anyway.
For every runner that crosses the finish line the Fruit Bowl donates $5 to the Resource Center.
Among the young finishers this year was six-year-old Nika Pearl Edwards, who ran the whole distance in about 21 minutes, beating her mother Lisa Pearl Edwards by at least a minute.
"I told her to just run," Lisa Pearl Edwards said of Nika, who trained with her mother for the "8 Tuff Miles" run on St. John. Nika didn't actually do the St. John run, Lisa said, but "She had already done two miles, so I was sure she could do this run."
Race organizer Therese Hodge said, "Considering there were so many other things going on this weekend, this was a good turnout."
Last year 307 women completed the race, and 321 turned out to run in 2003, which Hodge said was the record for the event.
The team challenge trophy went to Addelita Cancryn Junior High School who had 38 team members cross the finish line. Cancryn was the trophy winner in 2003, also. The team may have a slight edge since Hodge is the women's coach at the school.
Top three finishers in each category were:
12 and under
Ariel Stolz, 16:53
Shekinah Maduraa , 17:00
Janelle Hodge, 20:14.09
13 to 18
Leanna Hyacinth, 16:38
Shinnola Alexander, 20:40
Lawrencia Lawrence, 20:59
19 to 29
Natalie Claus, 14:37.92
Kelli Judson, 15:27
Tiarra Kappel, 18:50
30 to 39
Simone Francis, 14:42
Melissa King, 15:54.3
Cecille Arbour, 15:56
40 to 49
Grace Tuma, 14:37.70
Boel Merritt, 14:43
Lisa Betina Uncles, 15:53
50 to 59
Gloria Salas, 15:54.54
Margot Murray, 17:57
Joyce Gliniewicz, 19:06
60 and over
Carol Goldberg, 17:02
Joyce Pfaff, 18:38
Patty Varga, 20:24
Complete results will be available later in the week in the local sports section of St. Thomas Source. You can also find previous year results there.
