June 25, 2001 — The new venue for the 15th Annual Olympic Day Run on St. Croix provided accommodating conditions for runners of all ages and levels Saturday morning.
The race was cross-country style as it was run on all grass and dirt at the scenic University of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Campus. Billy Bohlke, on summer vacation following a hard cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track season at Louisiana State University, the Division I NCAA Indoor Champions for 2001, performed well.
In the early going, Antonio Guencas, known for his boxing prowess, sprinted to the lead and held it for several hundred meters. Jabari Goodwin and Bohlke responded as they shared the lead for the first mile and a half, with Bohlke using his experience and speed to outdistance a gallant Goodwin by eight seconds to win in 10 minutes and 20 seconds. Goodwin finished in 10:28; visiting coach from Indianapolis, Indiana, Bob Copeland took third and first for masters in 11:31; his son Rob Copeland was fourth in 11:40; Bob Halk was fifth in 12:10.
Theresa Harper, fresh off her Women Race win, was the first place female in 12:52, good for sixth place overall. Shelly Anderson, back on the scene after her Athens Marathon run, was second 13:36; Elizabeth Armstrong was third in 13:37; Susan Armstrong was fourth in 14:02; Jawana Goodwin, the first high school finisher, was fifth in 14:05.
The run is held around the world to celebrate the Olympic movement. Olympic officials and representatives of the Olympic federations took part in the event. Hans Lawaetz, president of the V.I. Olympic Committee ran the race for the first time. Dr. Marlon Williams, St.Croix vice-president and four-time Olympian, was on hand to share the duties of presenting awards and certificates to the participants. It is his foundation, the Boys to Men, Girls to Women Foundation, which is holding the raffle of a trip to the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
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