The opportunity to run a one-mile relay race while contributing to the development of a local track club and its athletes has returned.
The annual Tropical Relay Challenge, created by the late Derek Larner, is a one-mile relay race consisting of teams of five runners.
During each participant’s portion of the race, the runner will carry a baton containing a chip that will provide the time for each leg split.
The former 345 Athletics Club, which was founded by Larner before his passing, gained two new leaders last year who relaunched the track club as Vision Academy 345. They also reintroduced the relay event last year after a three-year hiatus due to Larner’s death.
Those new leaders, Lacee Barnes-Riley and her husband Adrian Riley, continue to carry on Larner’s legacy through their quickly growing track club and by continuing the relay race, which returns on 7 June.
Categories in the race comprise corporate, female, male, mixed and junior.
Runners will start the race at 6:45am by the D. Dalmain Ebanks Boxing Gymnasium on Olympic Way Road, near the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.
Barnes-Riley, the Caymanian national record holder for the shot put and discus, and gold medallist at the NACAC championships and CARIFTA games, told the Compass, “Last year [we] had 30 teams [but] the goal is 50-60 teams this year.”
In addition to offering more accessible sports and wellness events in the community, she said, “All proceeds from the event will be directed to the Vision Academy 345 NPO fund, aimed at supporting the club’s objectives to enhance opportunities for student athletes.”
Among those opportunities are promoting exposure to competition overseas and offering assistance to study abroad while pursuing a collegiate career in sports.
With many 5K or greater walk/runs happening in Cayman, Barnes-Riley says that this one-mile race “provides community members with the chance to participate in a running event that is not overly strenuous and to enjoy the company of friends”.
She added, “It is also an excellent opportunity for devoted runners to test their speed.”
The event will also include live music and raffle prizes.
Anyone interested in competing needs to register beforehand as they will not be able to sign up on event day.
Event registration costs $75 per team and can be completed at racecaribbean.net. Registration closes at 9pm on 6 June.
