The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

RUNNERS, walkers and all prospective participants in the Bahamas Half Marathon are encouraged to register as quickly as possible as event organisers have placed a cap of 400 athletes on the inaugural event.

Shavaughn Blades, an executive in the Bahamas Roadmasters running club, advised early registration for the event, scheduled for 6am November 24.

“We want to encourage everyone to register early because the number of participants is limited to 400. Our resources won’t allow for more and, for the safety of the runners, we are going to cap it at 400 this time, but we are hoping to expand on that number next year and provide facilitation for more numbers as this event continues to grow.

“We run all over the world, so why not create more opportunities to run at home. We like to encourage runners at home and we like to encourage runners from abroad to come here and this event achieves both of those goals.”

The event includes a half marathon, half marathon three-person relay and 10K races.

“At Bahamas Roadmasters, we are excited to finally be able to bring this event to the public. We are very excited about hosting and we look forward to the success of this event in its first venture, but this being our first time we just want to make sure everything goes on as well as possible so it led to our decision to cap the number at 400.

“We are still targeting everyone - walkers, runners whatever you do, just complete the course in four hours and a specially designed medal will be awarded to you.”

Bahamas Roadmasters did not give an exact number of athletes to register at this point, but advises anyone wishing to participate to register as fast as possible as slots continue to be filled quickly by local and international runners.

Local registration will be available at all three locations of the The Sports Centre, Harbour Bay, Mall at Marathon and Sandyport.

For more details, interested persons can contact the organisers by email: info@bahamashalf.com or also register at the website, www.bahamashalf.com or facebook at www.facebook.com/BHMarathon.

Charles W Johnson, also a Bahamas Roadmasters executive, said the competition will be at a high level with the growing popularity of distance running.

“We have two elite runners who have registered, they were the male and female winners of Marathon Bahamas this year. They are familiar with that course so they will be pretty much familiar with this race as well,” he said. “Distance running is perhaps one of the fastest growing sports in the world and when you look at the number of distance runners in Florida alone on a week to week basis you really see the potential and I think it is why the Ministry of Tourism has bought into this idea.”

Those Marathon Bahamas 2013 winners were four-time Colorado All-American and three-time USA World Cross Country Team member, Clint Wells, 37, and Angela Cobb, 29, of Florida.

Wells won the full marathon in a time of two hours and 33 minutes, smashing Bryan Huberty’s 2012 course record of two hours and 42 minutes and Cobb was the top overall full female marathon winner, and set a new course record of two hours and 54 minutes.

Jeff Rodgers, marketing executive for sports tourism in the Ministry of Tourism, said the event has the full backing of the Ministry of Tourism.

“The Ministry of Tourism is committed, not only to support this particular event but any federation or association that is connected internationally. That is what sports tourism is about, to enhance any local federation and the international profile of the Bahamas,” he said.

The Bahamas Roadmasters running club will host the event in conjunction with Wildside Online Inc.

“We will run the technical side of the Bahamas Half Marathon. Both the 10k and the half marathon will be internationally certified, so the race will be recognised internationally. The Bahamas Roadmasters has done an excellent job of getting everything organised,” said Lee McCoy of Wildside Online.

Wildside Online Inc. also produces and manages the 242 Colour Run and the Great Abaco Family Fitness Weekend, and works seamlessly with other Bahamian and Caribbean events to provide a great overall athlete and organiser experience.