The holiday season officially kicked off for runners on St. Croix with the 4th Annual VI National Championship Half Marathon & Reindeer Run 5K, held Sunday at Cane Bay. A total of 64 runners participated in the festive event, many sporting holiday attire, antlers, and jingle bells to celebrate the season.
Half Marathon
The highlight of the day came as Matias Porporato captured the 2025 VI Half Marathon Male Championship, setting a new course record of 1:21:46. On the women’s side, Bridget Klein continued her dominance, earning her fourth consecutive Female title with a time of 1:30:12, her second-fastest performance on the Cane Bay course.
Other standout half marathon results included:
- Patrick Corona, US Air Force Commander, second overall in 1:29:10
- Nathan Langley, in his debut half marathon, third male in 1:33:17
- Savannah Logan, second female in 1:54:15
- Esther Ellis, third female in 1:56:23
5K Champions
In the shorter race, Ayden Cintron, a GHCDS senior, set a personal best and claimed victory with a blazing 16:28. This performance qualifies Ayden for the 2026 CARIFTA Games which will be held in Grenada. He was followed by:
- Javier Morales, US Air Force, second in 22:33
- Elias Ruderfer, GHCDS senior, third in 23:22
On the women’s side, GHCDS senior Kennedy James delivered a commanding win in 23:58, nearly two minutes faster than her 2024 time. She was joined on the podium by:
- Ana Gutierrez, second in 26:38
- Brooke Cook, third in 27:17
Looking Ahead
The next distance running event on St. Croix is the St. Croix Scenic 50K, scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 18. Runners may register as individuals or as part of a two- or three-person relay team. Registration details are available at www.scenic50.com.
The second developmental meet will be held on Friday, Dec. 12, at the St. Croix Educational Complex track, beginning at 4 p.m. Athletes wishing to participate should register with the VITFF to confirm their entry and eligibility. https://vitrackandfield.com/registration/
Congratulations to all participants of the Reindeer Run Half Marathon & 5K! Finisher’s awards are available for pickup this week.
