Running News Daily

Olympian Deena Kastor named guest speaker for 2024 Bermuda Triangle Challenge

Olympic medal-winner Deena Kastor will be the honorary guest speaker at the 2024 Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge.

Kastor won a bronze medal in the marathon at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and also won the 2005 Chicago Marathon and the 2006 London Marathon, in which she set an American record of 2hr 19min 36sec that stood unbroken until last year. She was also a four-times Southeastern Conference champion and an eight-times All-American.

Also a previous US record-holder in the women’s half-marathon, 10,000 meters and 5,000 meters, Kastor still competes at a high level and is holds the US women’s masters marathon record of 2:27:47, which she achieved at the 2015 Chicago Marathon.

She also picked up the 2003 Jesse Owens Award as the top female track and field athlete in the US, the USATF Runner of the Year prize in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2008, as well as the CC Jackson award in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Kastor, 50, has also authored a New York Times bestselling book, Let Your Mind Run, in which she documents her journey to becoming a world-class Olympic runner, and is thrilled to be heading to the island.

“I am excited to have been selected as the ambassador and guest speaker for the 2024 Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge,” she said.

“I look forward to my first visit to the island, running the roads of Bermuda and meeting the event’s enthusiastic participants, spectators, sponsors and volunteers of Bermuda. I can’t think of a better way or a better place to spend a three-day weekend.”

Hazel Clark, Global Director of Sales and Business Development at the Bermuda Tourism Authority, and herself a three-times US Olympian, is pleased that her former team-mate is heading to Bermuda.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome my Olympic team-mate Deena Kastor to Bermuda and to the 2024 Chubb Triangle Challenge,” Clark said.

“Allowing all of Bermuda the opportunity to meet and interact with another world-class athlete is what the Bermuda Tourism Authority has been working to develop and leverage through our Sports Tourism strategy, as part of the National Tourism Plan.

“During my track career, Deena was well known in the US track and field world as the foremost long-distance female runner in the early 2000s. Her drive and accomplishments inspired each of us to work harder and strive towards the continuous pursuit of our own personal goals.”

Samantha Froud, Chubb’s chief administration officer, Bermuda Operations, said: “Chubb is excited to welcome an athlete of such amazing talent and accomplishments of Deena Kastor to the 2024 Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge. As the title sponsor, we are pleased not only to host an Olympic athlete of this calibre at this international event but enable all the participants to meet and engage with Deena.

Next year’s Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge will begin on January 12, with the Butterfield Mile and continues on January 13 with the BF&M 10K Run/Walk. The event concludes on January 14 with the PwC Bermuda Marathon, Bermuda Half-Marathon and Bermuda Half-Marathon Relay.

Bryan Morseman and Stephanie Hodge crowned Triangle Challenge champions

Bryan Morseman and Stephanie Hodge have been crowned the overall winners of the 46th Bermuda Triangle Challenge.

The PwC Bermuda Marathon, Half-Marathon and Half-Marathon Relay yesterday rounded off the competition which featured competitors also tackle the Butterfield Mile and BF&M 10K Run and Walk.

At the end of three races in three days, Morseman, of the United States, sealed the top honour in the male category with an accumulated time of 4hr 22min 25sec after finishing third in the mile and recording back-to-back victories in the 10k and marathon.

Poland’s Wojciech Kopec finished in second place overall with a total time of 3:22:54, while Kieran Morris rounded out the top three after claiming three successive third places for a time of 3:30:07.

Canadian Hodge capped her 17th Triangle Challenge with overall victory in the female category, building on a third-place finish in the mile with successes in the remaining races for a winning time of 4:22:25.

Britain’s Faith Geraghty settled for second place overall, clocking a total time of 4:30:56 after finishing second in all three events, while compatriot Shelley Jones completed the podium places.

There was also success for a host of local competitors across the various age categories.

Paula Barrow was crowned the overall winner of the female 20 to 29 division, while there was also top honours for Leana Coetsee in the 30 to 39 division. Of the male entrants, Ben Train took top spot in the 30 to 39 age category, while James Rawlins did likewise in the 40 to 49 division.

Meanwhile, American Kristin Corapi claimed victory in the female 40 to 49 category, prevailing over Bermuda’s Zoey Roberts, while there was also success for compatriots Karen Hoch in the 50 to 59 group and Gail White in the 60 to 69 division.

American Daniel Zheng was successful in the male 20 to 29 division, while compatriots Sidy Diallo (60-69) and Joe Schlereth (70 and over) proved victorious. Anthony Collins, of Great Britain, took the honours in the remaining 50 to 59 category.

Elite runners Ellie Stevens and JJ Santana rounded off a memorable visit to the island after being crowned Bermuda Triangle Half Challenge champions.

Stevens, of Great Britain, built on the momentum of a second-place finish in the mile, with successive victories in the remaining events to clock a winning total time of 2:06:28.

American Amanada Nurse (2:08:43) claimed second place, while compatriot Christina Vergara Aleshire completed the top three with an overall time of 2:08:58.

Just like Stevens, American Santana built on a second-place finish in the opening event with successive wins in the 10k and half marathon, clocking 1:45:29 overall.

Bermuda’s Tyler Butterfield finished an impressive second overall in a combined time of 1:50:27, with Elias Graca completing the podium places in 1:51:43.

There was also a standout performance from 79-year-old Jean Gardner, the oldest competitor to tackle the Bermuda Triangle Half Challenge, in finishing fourth overall in the Female 70 and Over division in an impressive time of 4:36:40. Notably the division was won by Maria Duffy, mother of Olympic and record four-time world triathlon champion Flora.

2021 Bermuda Triangle Challenge cancelled again as organizers emphasise safety first

The ever-popular Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge has fallen prey to Covid-19 for the second successive year.

The challenge, which consists of the Butterfield Front Street Mile, the BF&M 10K Run & Walk, and the PwC Half and Full Marathon, has long been listed as a Bermuda Tourism Authority signature event on the sports tourism calendar, attracting many overseas participants.

However, the persistence of the global pandemic has led the BTC race committee to cancel the event after consultation with the BTA, main sponsors Chubb, Butterfield Bank, Bermuda Fire and Marine and PwC, and stakeholders the Bermuda Police Service and the Ministry of National Security.

It was jointly determined by all parties to cancel the race partly because of a low sign-up of participants, particularly from overseas, with Bermuda listed as a Level 4 destination by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the race directors have decided to cancel the 2022 Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge race weekend,” said Martin Merritt, of the BTC race committee.

“The BTC race committee tried to develop lower-risk race scenarios for the event, but at the end of the day, we could not develop a foolproof plan to hold three major running races involving 1,500-plus participants, many from overseas, requiring hundreds of volunteers and support staff, without elevated risk.

“We are very disappointed to have to cancel the event for a second year in a row, but the logistics of having to hold a three-day event under these circumstances is not feasible and poses a health risk for all involved, which we believe is too great a risk to accept at this time.”

Samantha Froud, Chubb’s chief administration officer, Bermuda Operations, spoke of the company’s agreement to cancel the event with focus now turning to a return in 2023.

“Chubb is in full agreement with the BTC race committee to cancel this event, as the health and safety of our local community is of utmost importance,” she said.

“Chubb remains committed as a lead sponsor for the 2023 Bermuda Triangle Challenge event. We will now focus our energy on working with the race directors, the BTA and the other race sponsors to ensure the 2023 event is spectacular.”

Hazel Clark, the director of sales and business development at the BTA, echoed those sentiments, with the safety of the wider community paramount to the decision.

“The Bermuda Tourism Authority understands the complex interplay of factors that led the BTC race committee to make the decision to cancel the 2022 event, and we support the move,” she said.

“Ultimately, prioritising the health and safety of the participants, volunteers and our community will always be at the forefront of our decision-making.

“Though the reality is the January 2022 event will not take place as we intended, we look forward to working with the committee to plan the next race weekend when conditions allow.”

The BTC race committee has confirmed that any participants who may have already signed up to the event can take up an option to defer their entry to the 2023 Race Weekend or claim a refund.

Participants who have registered will receive an e-mail this month with details on how to defer or claim a refund.