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HomeNewsLocal sportsSmith Family Continues to Make History; Michelle Wins 33rd Children Race

Smith Family Continues to Make History; Michelle Wins 33rd Children Race

Lining up for the start of the 33rd Annual Children Race of 2020

Michelle Smith of the St. Croix Track Club toed the start line for the 33rd Annual Children Race for the last time Saturday in this event for 13 and under boys and girls that kicks off the annual Children’s Parade of the Crucian Christmas Festival.

She won the race with a personal best of 2 minutes and 19 seconds for the 800 meters on the parade route on King Street and  led the 13-and- under girl finishers, including: Akyra Joseph of St. Croix Track Club, who was second place in 2:41; Jeniqua Weeks (SCTC) was third in 2:55; Lauren Jones (SCTC) was fourth in 3:12; Jamiah Jn-Baptiste Eulalie Rivera School was fifth in 3:35.

Girls 9 and under…

Faith Eatmon (SCTC) led the 9-and-under girls with a time of 2:58; Katelyn Jones (SCTC) was second in 3:19; Semaj James SCTC was third in 3:24; Sara Jones (SCTC) was fourth in 3:49; Ella Chewning was fifth in 4:10; Olivia Jones (SCTC) was sixth in 4:28; Grace Chewning was sixth in 5:38

Boys 13 and under…

Elionai Etienne (SCTC) was the first boy 13 and under in 2:58; Alexander Etienne (SCTC) was second in 3:06; Aden Rojas (ELL/K8) was third in 3:09.

Boys 9 and under…

Nykeem Eddie Eulalie Rivera School was the first boy 9-and-under in 2:57; Jiovanni Boulogne (SCTC) was second in 2:58; Carter Rojas (ELL/K8) was third in 3:41

Notes:

Michelle Smith has won this race in both age-groups and follows in the footsteps of her sister Mikaela, who also won the event in both age-groups and is a sophomore runner at Austin Peay University. She will move up to the 3Kings Mile next year — the race her mother Mireille won on Saturday and her sister has also dominated over the years.

Coincidently, her brother also ran a personal best to win the 3Kings Mile on Saturday. All of them are coached by their parents, Mireille and Keith, are versatile and excel in the hurdle events, middle distance and more.

Wallace Williams, founder V.I.Pace Runners and of both races and race director of each of the 38 events, recalls a 3Kings Mile back in the early 80s when he held off a young Keith Smith in the last 200 meters on the same Frederiksted course from Claude O. Markoe School to the fort.  Ralex Clovis won the race in 4:10; Williams was second in 4:16 and Keith, paving the way for his family or runners, was third in 4:26…

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