The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net IN ITS third year, the Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend, which includes Marathon Bahamas and the Susan G. Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure 5K, drew thousands of participants to the Bahamas in the most populated and thrilling edition of the event in its brief history. In the main event yesterday, Bryan Huberty finished first overall and set a new course record in the 26 mile Marathon with his time of 2:42.53s. Sidney Collie, 32, finished second in 2:47.40s, and Delroy Boothe, the top Bahamian finisher was third in 3:01.19s. The 33-year-old, originally from Madison Wisconsin, but now based out of Miami, Florida won his third full-marathon of his brief four-year-career. While he fell short of his ultimate goal of a sub 2:31 time, Huberty said he was pleased to survive with another win to add to his resume. "Right now, I have the course record but it's not that fast so I'm sure with all the attention this event is gaining it's going to be broken pretty soon. I won my third marathon out of 20 and that's amazing. It's never a given running a marathon whether you're the favorite or not, so many things can happen. It's a journey and an out of body near death experience so I was pleased in that sense," he said, " But I didn't hit my goal. My goal was to go sub 2:31s which would have qualified me for the elite field in the major marathons like Boston, New York or Chicago. I was on my way for the first 20 miles but fell apart in the final six. I was pleased to win nonetheless. Today was a beautiful day and I'll never forget it." The marathon race course was designed to showcase the diversity of this popular tourism destination including many of the historical buildings of downtown, highlight the splendor of Paradise Island, the beauty and charm of Cable Beach and transverse along the ocean to a dramatic ocean front finish at Arawak Cay. Huberty, a former soccer player and now a high school cross country track and field coach, said the enthusiasm of the Bahamian public and roadside supporters made the event one to remember. "I retired from the sport [soccer] because it was too injury prone. I had a competitive void, I wanted to compete and I love to run. For the last four years, I've competed on this level so I'm a new runner. There was a lot of crowd cheering us on especially on that second half. There was so much positive enthusiasm and the crowd was so into it was deafening sometimes as you ran by. I was in the zone but I could still hear the people screaming and feed off their energy. That was cool, they love running in the Bahamas and I'll be back for sure," he said, "I came to the Bahamas in November on a cruise and I did an 18 mile run of the course. It's cool. It's nice to do it out on the ocean, although the breeze was a little strong today. Respect to the Bahamas this is the third year and I'm sure things are going to keep getting better and better with each year it's hosted." Angela Cobb, who set a new course record in last year's half-marathon, returned to take the top overall finish in the marathon with her time of 3:00.17s. A former collegiate runner at Clayton State University in Georgia, is a member of WildSide Elite Racing Team. Youlanda Deveaux finished second in 3:06.31s while Christina D'Ignazio was third in 3:10.48s. In the half-marathon, 37-year-old Cobi Morales took first place on the men's side in 1:17.00s. A pair of Bahamians rounded out the top three with David Ferguson,36, 3second in 1:20.32s and Mackey Williams, 42, third in 1:21.29s "I feel great. I absolutely adore the marathon. I love the fact that it was very steep. I live in Miami where it is very flat so I love to go over and down. It was beautiful, well organised and a beautiful and fast course," Morales said, "I think it's well organised compared to other courses I've been. The Bahamas is very beautiful and this race has a lot of potential to grow. I feel honored to be here and people are very nice. I like it." In the women's half-marathon, Jessica Crate took the top spot in 1;21.47s. Lisa Ferarri, 27, was second in 1:29.20s and Bahamian Jessica Murray, 30, was third in 1:34.47s. "It was an awesome race I really had fun. I had a chance to run with the girl I was training with. The hills were pretty fun going up and down the bridge. Going out just felt good. I partnered up with a few people. I just ran hard and strong and took it into the wind on the way back. The scenery was beautiful so I highly recommend this race to everyone," she said, "It was a tough day with the wind. It wasn't ideal but it was nice. It was good and I gave it my best effort so yea, I look forward to the competition next year." In the four team relay, Bahamadrie finished first followed by Kananga, One Team Campbell, D and T as One, and the Sands Men in the top five male team finishers. Among female teams, S Bahamas of SDA finished first, followed by Fast and Delirious, High Rockers, St. Andrews and GTC in the top five. Saturday morning featured the The Susan G Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure 5K. Hundreds of runners and walkers took to the route which began at Church Street and finished at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. Sunshine Insurance (Agents & Brokers) Ltd, with MARSH, its international affiliate, in its role as the lead sponsor and organiser for Marathon Bahamas, has fostered a strategic partnership between Marathon Bahamas and Susan G Komen for the Cure, the global leader of the breast cancer movement and the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists - a partnership that could significantly impact the health of Bahamians, especially in the areas of breast cancer and other women's health issues. It is an annual event, not only to raise money for the beneficiaries but also to bring attention to the dreaded disease that affect so many of our Bahamian women. 100 percent of the money raised by the Race for the Cure will remain in The Bahamas to fund breast cancer and women's health programs.