By RENALDO DORSETT
Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
CONTINUING its effort to engage student athletes in the fight against cancer, Scotiabank awarded its student relay winners in the sixth annual Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend.
The top three finishers, along with the winner in the inaugural co-ed division, were presented with trophies at the Scotiabank courtyard, Rawson Square.
The Queen’s College Comets’ team of Kyle Thompson, Mookie Rolle, Meshach Roberts and Rory McCarroll finished first in 3:12:26s.
Defending champion CV Bethel Stingrays, with the team of Kevin Major, Ryan McIntosh, T’Shad Cornish and Samuel Moncur, finished second in 3:16:11s while the CI Gibson Rattlers were third in 3:20:52s.
The Comets’ co-ed team of Kimona Wilson, Charnelle Williams, Tadiwa Mushonga and Matthew Richardson took top honours in that division (sixth overall) in a time of 3:31:33s.
Approximately 22 teams competed in this year’s edition of Marathon Bahamas.
The RM Bailey Pacers were fourth in 3:21:33s, St Augustine’s College fifth in 3:22:23, Doris Johnson seventh in 3:40:14s, St John’s College eighth in 3:45:04s and the St Andrew’s Hurricanes rounded out the top 10 in 3:57:30s.
Leah Davis, Scotiabank’s senior manager of marketing and public relations, endorsed the partnership between her organisation, Sunshine Insurance and the schools as one of her personal highlights of the year.
“This is a great fit because it engages young people, young athletes in the fight against cancer and we can directly see the difference we are making in the community, she said.
“This is an exciting part of our Bright Future Programme, which gives back to young people in real ways in the community. This event – and I have to say, it’s one of the most inspiring – because you see people of all ages, shapes and sizes just running and they are committed to the goal of finishing, but also to a great cause. So, for us, this event represents opportunities to give back in the fight against cancer and in supporting young people through our Bright Future Programme.”
Trevor Strachan, co-ordinator of the student relay portion of the race, said he looks forward to seeing the growth of the programme with even more schools added in the near future.
“This year we had 22 teams, up from 16 the year before so that growth is encouraging. We also had Drake University [Des Moines, Iowa] send two teams so it shows our reach internationally and of course the mixed relay division was a success,” he said.
“It was very well attended, we are pushing for 30 schools next year because this is one of the major ways we can develop distance running among our young athletes.”
Rogan Smith, Sunshine Insurance marketing coordinator, encouraged the group for their stellar effort in the event.
“You students run this town. It takes a lot of tenacity and courage to run 26.2 miles, even as a part of a relay team and I applaud you for that,” she said.
“This event is about bringing awareness to the fight against cancer and it’s important to have young people involved in that process.”
Prior to the event, Scotiabank made a $10,000 cheque presentation to sponsor the student athlete portion of the race.
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