In preparation for the 24th of May Bermuda Day Holiday 2016, here is a little bit of information about the sometimes lesser acknowledged race, the 24th of May Heritage Day Junior Classic Race. The race is actually called the Lister Insurance Agency Junior Classic Bermuda Day Road Race, writes Randall Lister.
The Junior Classic Race has taken place every year since 1998. Thus, the race is now in its 18th year. The actual full name of the race is the Lister Insurance Agency Junior Classic Bermuda Day Road Race. The sole sponsor of the race is Lister Insurance Agency Ltd. Lister Insurance has been the sponsor ever since the race was started. The organizers of the race are West End Athletic Club. The two of them work hand-in-hand every year to bring this race to the children of Bermuda.
The average number of kids that take part in the race each year, is about 100 kids. In the beginning, the race only had 50 kids, but the interest increased so much, that the number is now up to 100. The age groups involved are 8-10, 11-12, and 13-15. The race is 2 miles long. The race course starts on Front Street, next to The Supermart grocery store, and finishes at the Bernard Park. The race is set up to match the final two miles of the Adult marathon. At the end of the race, each participant receives a certificate and a t-shirt.
Trophies are awarded to the top three Boys and Girls, in each age category.
Here are the results for the podium-finishers in each Age Group for 2015:
8-10 Girls:
1st place- Tesyah-Mahle Astwood, 2nd-Satasin Swann, 3rd- Jasmin Hasselkus
8-10 Boys:
1st- Tommy Marshall, 2nd- Keyni Mills, 3rd- Jayson Simons
11-12 Girls:
1st- Selah Tuzo, 2nd- Jessie Marshall, 3rd- Holly Bruton
11-12 Boys:
1st- Ryan Outerbridge, 2nd- Kahzi Sealey, 3rd- Josiah King
13-15 Girls:
1st- Paige Bruton, 2nd- Kayla Raymond, 3rd- Zahra Wilson
13-15 Boys:
1st- Jayden Ming, 2nd- Quincy Kuzyk, 3rd- Jalun Hassell
The record for the fastest ever time for a race winner for the Girls is 12:14 set by Kyrah Scraders in 2009 and then matched by Selah Tuzo in 2015.
The record for the fastest ever time for a race winner for the Boys is 10:16 set by Henry Talbot, way back in 1999.
Over the race’s 19 year history, there have been 18 different overall 1st place winners for the boys, with Coyatito Smith being the only one to win the boys race more than once (in 2002 and 2003).
Whereas for the girls, there have only been 10 different overall 1st place winners, in the 19 years of the race. Five girls winning it multiple times. Selah Tuzo, Ashley Berry, and Shardae Whitter have all won it 3 times each; while Rachel Fox and Shellicia Mckenzie have both won it twice.
Last year’s overall male winner was Ryan Outerbridge from the 11-12 Age Group. Will this be the year that the overall male winner from last year repeats as overall winner, and finally manages to match Coyatito Smith’s achievement from 2003? Can Outerbridge do it? Will he be the one, to equal the record for most wins for a male in this race?
Last year’s overall female winner was Selah Tuzo from the 11-12 Age Group. That was her third overall win, in a row. If she wins overall this year, she will be the first female (and actually the first participant, male or female) to win it four times. Can Tuzo do it? Will she set the new record for most wins, in this race?
So the Big question is, will history be made at this year’s race, by either Tuzo or Outerbridge? We’ll find out the answer on race day.
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