St. John's Jeremy Zuber, right, and Steven Asson refuel 10-miles into the race before Zuber went on to break Asson's course record. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA—For just over 11 miles, St. John’s Jeremy Zuber and defending champion and BVI Half Marathon record holder Steven Asson, ran stride for stride in a classic Saturday morning road battle in the third edition of the event.

The two made the early break leaving, leaving 24 others in their wake over the 13.1 mile race course from the Tortola Sports Club in Pasea, up to the Port Purcell Roundabout, down to Pockwood Pond and return.

Zuber tried to shake Asson but he wouldn’t fall. He tried again, Asson’s back tightened, and Zuber opened more than a minute lead. But, Asson was not done. He made a valiant comeback. Although cutting Zuber’s deficit that had stretched to over a minute, he could not overcome the separation and Zuber pulled out a thrilling 14 seconds victory, in the closest finish in the 3-year old event. Zuber’s time of 1 hour 17 minutes and 38 seconds, broke Asson’s 1:20.17 course record. Asson also finished under his old mark in 1:17.52.

“It was a great race, flat course, a beautiful day and I was expecting it to be windy but, it was really smooth,” Zuber recalled. “Asson and I split back and forth the whole way. I made a move about an hour, but he hung tight, and I finally shook loose a little bit, but started struggling near the end and he caught back up. I was just praying it was 12.9 miles instead of 13.1. It was 13.1. It was good.”

Asson said it was a brilliant race and he was able to hang with Zuber until the last three miles when his back began bothering him. “I tried to keep up but my two legs felt heavy,” he noted. “I tried to put pressure but felt like I was dragging. But, I made a good comeback, but, it felt like a needle in my back pricking me so I had to slow it down. But, I’m satisfied with my time.”

Zuber, who ran a 2 hours 41 minutes Marathon in Boston earlier this year, said he was satisfied with the time, particularly when it’s a good time and there are no injuries. He said he wasn’t sure where he was physically, because his training has been off and on.

“Now I know where I’m at, it’s time to keep training,” he said. ‘”This sets me up great. It sends me into the winter with a Half Marathon time to look at, I can base my workout off a quality half and hopefully, run another good one.”

The women’s race was a three way battle over the first nine miles before Belinda Boyd took control and went on to win in 1 hour 49 minutes and 40 seconds. Deb Grills was second in 1:50.54 and Kay Reddy followed in 1:53.31.

Richard Francis, a soon to be 15 year old, established a BVI Scholastic record running 1 hour, 49 minutes and 27 seconds to finish ninth overall. “I think I could have run a better time, because I missed a couple practice days and that kept me back,” he noted. “I had to work a little harder today.”

Final results; Men: 1. Jeremy Zuber. St. John, 1 hour, 17 minutes and 38 seconds. 2. Steven Asson, 1:17.52. 3. Glen Ross, 1:37.20. 4. Ian Mann, 1:44.35. 5. Zebalon McLean, 1:45.15. 6. James Cooke, 1:46.46. 7. Philip Graham, 1:48.42. 7. Ralph Graham, 1:48.42. 9. Richard Francis, 1;49.27. 10. James Warburton, 1:51.36. 11. Howard Moore, 1:56.33. 12. Domenico Rebuffo, 2:03.20. 13. Charles Kerins, 2:05.58.

Women: 1. Belinda Boyd, 1:49.40. 2. Deb Grills, 1.50.54. 3. Kay Reddy, 1.53.31. 4. Sally Blackmore, 1:58.46. 5. Adele Perrot, 2:04.16. 6. Aisling Dwyer, 2;06.02. 7. Sunshine Ross, 2.07.23. 8. Alina Niculae, 2:09.27. 9. Simina Van Clief, 2:09.28. 10. Louetter Macallum, 2:17.18. 11. Philomena Robertson, 2:22.09. 12. Hannah Piggott, 2:26.49. DNF. Judy Haycraft

© Copyright 2008-9 BVI Olympic Committee

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