Record turnout for Pirates Week 5K

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The Pirates Week 5K drew a record 176 runners this year to what CIAAA Race Director Jerry Harper described as “a great event”.

Runners came from as far away as Hawaii and the UK for the race which has grown over the years mainly by word–of–mouth from previous runners, and from email bursts from Jerry Harper.

The largest contingent was a group of 14 runners from Oklahoma with 7 of them (Ron Wall, Tom Lam, Penny Patton, Kirk Lodes, Pat Lodes, Charla Wolf and Sheryl Weatherford) taking first or second place in their age category.

The race consisted of runners, joggers, walkers, and even 2 pram pushers. It started and ended at the South Terminal on Harbour Drive and created a lot of stir among spectators as the runners finished. Visiting “Blackbeard”, Ben Cherry, started the contestants by waving his sword.

Principal sponsor of the event (also a sponsor in previous years) was Deloitte, with provision of water and drinks coming from Gatorade.

Deloitte partner Jeremy Smith said, “Being the sole sponsor on the year that the 5k run had the best turnout ever is a great honor for Deloitte! We were pleased to see such an impressive level of participation from different countries and that so many members of our staff came out to show their support as participants and spectators! We congratulate the Committee on a job well done and congratulate them on their 30th Pirates Week Anniversary!”

Pirates Week Executive Director Dave Martins pointed out that sporting events in Pirates Week draw a specific visitor to the Festival. “Many of these runners come here every year for this race and to enjoy Pirates Week,” he said. “They’re not that visible to the general public, but it shows the span of the Festival that we continue to get them and that the corporate sector continues to support them.”

All of the profits from the event are donated to the Cayman Islands Amateur Athletic Association (CIAAA).

Top finishers:

Male under 15: 1st: Tristen Von Kirchenheim 22:13 2nd: Marvin Conolly 22:28

3rd: Dan Hall 23:41

Male 15–19: 1st: Junior Hines 18:20 2nd: Marlon Crowe 18:48 3rd: Arron McLaughlin

Male 20–29:1st: Neal Coleman 19:21 2nd: Delano Samuels 19:43 3rd: Sammy Muchangi 19:56

Male 30–39: 1st: Russ Coleman 17:45 2nd: Kirk Lodes 18:21 3rd: J P Hanekom 18:49

Male 40–49: 1st: Tom Lam 18:07 2nd Tom Gammage 21:05 3rd Eamon McErlean 23:13

Male 50–59: 1st Ron Wall 18:43 2nd Max Obrist 21:12 3rd Chris Sutton 22:15

Male 60+: 1st Roger Davies 22:41 2nd Herb Cohen 29:48

Female under 15: 1st: Ashleigh Nalty 26:05 2nd Victoria Crawshaw 27:28 3rd Kristen Dixon 28:32

Female 15–19: 1st Kadeen Foster 22:02 2nd Anissa Owen 31:33 3rd Jahzenia Thomas 32:41

Female 20–29: 1st Emily Davies 22:32 2nd Charlotte Cloete 22:44 3rd Mari Rodriguez 24:01

Female 30–39: 1st Penny Patton 24:07 2nd Kristin Eby 25:37 3rd Shevaun O’Keeffe 26:03

Female 40–49: 1st Midge Kerr 21:22 2nd Sheryl Weatherford 22:47 3rd Elizabeth Glass 23:24

Female 50–59: 1st Charla Wolf 26:00 2nd Pat Lodes 29:49 3rd Debbie Thompson 33:59