More than 1,000 runners lined up next to the V.I. National Park Visitors’ Center under sunny skies on Saturday morning, February 25, for the 16th Annual 8 Tuff Miles road race.
It was a clear, but hot day with a new first place finisher, but no new course record set this year. Derrick Butler, 31, of Cincinnati, Ohio, ran across St. John ahead of the rest of 1,100 runners expected to take part in the annual race. Butler crossed the finish line in the Coral Bay ball field in 46 minutes and 22 seconds, only 27 seconds ahead of last year’s 8 Tuff Miles winner
Christopher Reis, 30, of Covington, Kentucky, who came in second this year.
On the women’s side, Ruth Ann David, 38, of St. Thomas, took the top honors for the third year in a row, crossing the finish line in a time of one hour and 10 seconds.
See next week’s St. John Tradewinds for additional photos and times.