Local runner wins annual St. Croix Scenic 50-Mile Run

Mike Klein had a simple plan and he stuck to it.

The 46-year-old distance runner thought if he consistently ran 10-minute miles, he would come across the finish line in first place at the third annual St. Croix Scenic 50-Mile Run on Sunday. Klein started out fast, but the Caribbean sun came out and he fell slightly off his planned pace.

Lucky for him, the long-time St. Croix resident has been in similar situations before.

"I'm used to the sun, and I trained all year long in this weather," said Klein, who set a new course record Sunday when he finished the ultra-marathon in 8 hours, 18 minutes and 35 seconds. "But the conditions for this race were perfect. There was a cool breeze and we had nice cloud cover in the morning."

Six distance runners completed the 50-mile race - the longest road race in the U.S. Virgin Islands - while nine started Sunday's race at 5 a.m. St. Croix resident Amanda Warehime, 40, was the lone women's finisher.

Klein has run in all three installments of the race and finished third in his previous two attempts. He said his main goal this year was to finish first and set the new standard for the course.

"This, for me, is the biggest race all year," said Klein, who finished runner-up at the St. Croix International Marathon on Dec. 4. "I mean, I want to do other distance races but this is the No. 1 for me. I trained the whole year for this and I was ready."

Before Klein won the 29th Veterans Day 5K-V.I. Cross Country Championships in November on St. Croix, he ran in the Vermont 100-Mile Endurance Run last summer and did the JFK 50-Mile Memorial in Maryland.

He did a few 30-mile training runs locally with his running partner, Troy Halloway, who finished second in 9:49:37. Kirk DePriest of Severance, Colo., took third in 10:19:16, followed by Warehime, who set the women's course record in 10:54:07.

"I didn't have a lot of high hopes going in because my fitness level wasn't where I wanted it to be," said Warehime, who suffered a stress fracture in her right foot in August and had to take six weeks off of training. "I was happy to be able to finish. This one ranks up there with my top personal accomplishments."

Warehime, a New Mexico native, has lived on St. Croix for the last 10 years and competed in the very first Scenic 50-Mile race in 2010.

"I ran a much smarter race this time," she said. "I did not expect that kind of time so it was an amazing experience."

Klein, who has lived on St. Croix since 1984, never trailed in the race. The course started at Fort Christiansvaern in Christiansted, went through the north side, along the scenic drive toward Hamms Bluff, into Frederiksted and back. The race went through Christiansted and ended on the beach at the Buccaneer Hotel.

The grueling course started and ended below 50 feet sea level but hit elevations of over 900 feet twice.

"We were very pleased with everything," said race director Matt Halk, who drove around in a jeep and also ran alongside runners during the final miles to offer water and other assistance. "We had a good finish rate and had so many incredible volunteers. There was a great diehard group of people that hung out there for a long time and offered plenty of support. We were very fortunate for them."

Klein improved on his time from last year by 31 minutes, and set a course record by more than 20 minutes. Along the way, he ate plenty of fruit, organic energy bars, running gels and he drank a Red Bull energy drink at about the midway point.

"I had to keep the engine fueled," said Klein, who was one of three legacy runners who have competed in all three St. Croix Scenic 50-Milers. Halloway and Rob Wolfe out of Key West, Fla., are the other two. Wolfe took fifth overall on Sunday in 11:45:14.

Wallace Williams and the V.I. Pace Runners helped organize and run the event, which was sanctioned by the USVI Track and Field Federation.

For more information on the St. Croix Scenic 50-Mile Race, visit online at www.stcroix50.com.

3rd annual St. Croix Scenic 50-Mile Run results

Place Name (Location) Age Time

1 Mike Klein (St. Croix) 46 8:18:35

2 Troy Halloway (St. Croix) 48 9:49:37

3 Kirk DePriest (Colorado) 35 10:19:16

4 Amanda Warehime (St. Croix) 40 10:54:07

5 Rob Wolfe (Florida) 58 11:45:14

6 Steven Palmer (Alabama) 27 11:52:09

DNF Justin Morris (Texas) 34 35.5 miles

DNF Rick Garrigan (New York) 42 23.7 miles

DNF Rachel Cochran (Alabama) 30 11.9 miles

- Source: race director Matt Halk

St. Thomas runners participate in Cruise to Run race

More than 250 passengers aboard the Caribbean Princess cruise ship and a handful of St. Thomas runners competed in the sixth annual Cruise to Run road race near Crown Bay on Monday. The race was part of a special cruise itinerary designed for runners and other athletes who race at each port of call during their Caribbean vacation.

Members of the St. Thomas Roadrunners Association participated and used the 3.1-mile race as a prediction run. The course started at the Crown Bay dock, headed west toward the University of the Virgin Islands, then to the Zone B Command Fire Station and then turned back east to Inspection Lane before it ended in Crown Bay.

The USVI Department of Tourism provided gift bags to the first 10 runners and souvenirs for all participants.

All-Comers Track and Field Meet No. 2

Nia Jack, a 13-year-old from St. Mary's School and the Hounds and Foxes Track Club, won three events at the All-Comers Track and Field Meet on Jan. 14 at St. Croix Educational Complex. The competition was one of several events St. Croix youth athletes use to make the USVI team that will compete at the CARIFTA meet in Bermuda on Easter weekend.

Jack took first in the Under-17 100 meters (12.12 seconds), 400 meters (60.47) and long jump (4.60 meters). Stephanie Rhoden of Manor School won the Open Division 100-meter in 12.17 and 400-meter in 58.82. Mikaela Smith won the Under-13 800 meters in 2:46.

On the boys side, Educational Complex High School's Zaire Knight was first in the Under-17 100 meters (11.07) and 200 meters (21.96). Malique Smith of the St. Croix Track Club won the Under-17 400 meters in 54.80 and Under-17 800 meters in 2:18. Malcolm Martin also took first in the Open Division 400 meters with a time of 51.26.

- Contact sports writer Aaron Gray at 714-9102 or email agray@dailynews.vi.

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