Phil Reed and Heather Francis claimed victory for the men and women respectively in Sunday’s Walkers Cayman Islands Marathon.
According to the official results, Phil Reed crossed the finish line in first place, with a time of 2:56:48.
Heather Francis won the women’s event in a time of 3:35:52.
Conrad Proud took second place for the men with a time of 3:13:29 and Pete Liggins finished third with a time of 3:31:12.
In the women’s event, Sarah Wilum took second place, in 3:52:59, and Oddy Grullon was third, in 3:58:32.
Nearly 1,000 people took to the streets before the sun had risen on Sunday, to participate in the well-attended event.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, participants were placed into four groups of 250 people, with staggered start times.
Half Marathon results
Leading the way in the half marathon was Adam Newman, in 1:22:06.
Next across the line was Gregley Gayle with a time of 1:26:24, narrowly beating out Esmond Brown who finished a few seconds later with a time of 1:26:47.
In the women’s division, Elaine Anderson clinched first place with a time of 1:35:08. Michelle Vinton finished second with a time of 1:41:09. Then, in third place, was Kym Bailey in a time of 1:42:41.
4-person relay results
The team Walkers Running 1 – comprising Peter Kendall, Theo Lefkos, Christopher Brett Young and Mike Beck – won the relay event and cinched the corporate division title with a time of 2:57:49.
In second place overall – and winning the men’s division – was the team from CrossFit Cayman (Neville Boon, Cameron Dunn, Toby Bowles, and Aaron Bernardo), running a combined time of 3:19:28.
The mixed relay was won by the team from Priestleys in 3:24:24 and the women’s division was won by the F45 Trailblazers in 3:52:56.
Notable runners
Team Jasmine, who finished in fifth place overall with a time of 3:23:59, featured some familiar faces, including Governor Martyn Roper and Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee alongside Gregley Gayle and Darren Evans.
To view the results in full click here.
Absent, but not forgotten
Tributes were made throughout the marathon to two noticeable absences from this year’s event.
This year, Cayman’s sporting community mourned the loss of track and field coaches Derek Larner and Jerry Harper.
Harper’s wheelchair, with his picture, was placed by the finish line in memory of his love and dedication for the event over the years.
Remembering our supportive Coach Jerry Harper today and always. RIP Coach ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/N6R8gVXmAc
— Cayman Marathon (@caymanmarathon) December 4, 2021
Harper has been described as a pioneer of athletics in Cayman and could often be seen at the finish line of running events of all distances.
Larner died on 5 Jan., after a three-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Over the years, he had been an avid runner and often participated in the Cayman Islands Marathon, especially in the half-marathon division where his team, British Bulldogs, won the event in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Larner’s youth track group MDR would go on to win the relay in 2014 and 2015. 345 Athletics Club, which evolved from MDR, would go on win the event 2016 and 2017. Last year, the marathon organisers handed out special British flag stickers for persons to run in honour of Larner who was not able to attend.
Highlights from the event
Compass photographer Taneos Ramsay was out on the route and at the finish line, as the finishers from this year’s event came in.
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