By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
THE Grand Bahama Amateur Athletic Association, along with the Ministry of Tourism, has announced plans for the first Grand Bahama X-Treme Challenge, a 13.2-mile long intracoastal event for both international and local runners.
The event is expected to attract over 200 runners from the Bahamas, the US and Canada, according to organisers in Grand Bahama yesterday.
GBAAA President Iram Lewis, and Jay Philippe, assistant manager of sports tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, made the announcement at Pirate’s Cove on Taino Beach. They hope the challenge, which is set for December 3, becomes a yearly signature event for the island.
“We are very excited about this and we believe it would be a signature event that will bring exposure to the island of Grand Bahama,” said Mr Lewis, who noted that the island’s beaches will be highlighted in the course.
Mr Lewis believes that December is ideal because the X-Treme Challenge will serve as a “warm up” event for both international and local competitors.
“There are a lot of marathons coming up in the month of January, which includes the marathon in Nassau, and so the challenge could be used as a warm up for competitors vying for those events,” he explained.
In addition to attracting international athletes, Mr Lewis extended an invitation to high school students, as well as persons in New Providence and the Family Islands. He said the high school students would compete as relay teams of four runners.
Mr Philippe said officials will be promoting the event over the next three months in the US and Canada through advertising, and while attending various health and fitness expositions.
“This is intended to be a signature event for Grand Bahama, and we expect a number of athletes, as well as persons who are not athletes to participate,” he said.
Mr Philippe said that the Ministry of Tourism is excited to partner with GBAAA.
“This gives us an excellent opportunity to showcase what we have to offer and we are a proud partner of this event and hope it can be something long term that we can continue to build as the years go on.”
He also thanked the Grand Bahama Port Authority, City of Freeport Council, Insurance Management, and Pirates Cove for hosting the event at their location.
Anita Doherty, past president GBAAA, endorsed the event. “Many years ago we had many marathons, and we want our corporate citizens and schools to support this wonderful event,” she said.
Tyrone Thurston, a semi-retired international marathoner who competed in the Iron Man in Hawaii, helped to co-ordinate the race.
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