Over 1000 take part in marathon

By Christopher Tobutt

Over 1000 entrants took part in this year’s Walker’s Marathon - including full marathon, half marathon and relay teams. The start - at 5am by the Hard Rock Cafe on the waterfront saw the runners heading towards the turn-around point at Prospect. The half-marathoners ran there and back into George Town, while the full-marathoners did the whole circuit twice over.

Andrew Morrison from Grand Cayman won the male category in  the full marathon, with a time of 3 hours and 53 seconds, leading the field by a big margin. Johnny Gibson from George Town crossed the finishing line more than half an hour later, with a time of 3 hours, 35 minutes and 42 seconds, but close on his heels was Mark Reed, who came in third, with a time of three hours 36 minutes and 10 seconds.

Oddy Grullon was the first female, with a time of 3 hours, 44 minutes. Katie Wallis was second, with a time of 3 hours 48 minutes, and 4 seconds. Third in the female category was Heather Francis with a time of 4 hours, 14 minutes and 33 seconds.

Esomond Brown from George Town was the first male over the line in the half-marathon, with a time of 1 hour 22 minutes and 45 seconds. Second was West Bayer Tafari Khan, with a time of 1 hour 23 minutes, and 35 seconds. The third male in the half - marathon wias Teddy Mercer, with a time of 1 hour, 25 minutes and 13 seconds.

Jalene Cruz was the first female over the line in the half marathon with a time of 1 hour, 30 minutesw and 52 seconds. Second was Michelle Vinton with 1 hour, 31 minutes and 26 seconds, and third was Elaine Anderson with 1 hour 36 minutes, 46 seconds.

The Kids Fun Run  started at 10:30am at the Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue and end at Hard Rock Cafe. The event is free for students between the ages of 5 and 11 years old and around 250 kids took part.

Each year thousands of dollars are raised for various charities and non-profit organisations via the Cayman Islands Marathon as many participants choose to run for a cause and solicit online donations from friends and family members while others simply add a donation while registering. The 2022 event raised almost USD30,000.