RUNNERS FROM ZACATECAS, MEXICO, ON SATURDAY BRAVED COLD WINDS AND RAIN TO DOMINATE THE 31ST ANNUAL LONGEST CAUSEWAY RUN.
JOSEPH AMENYA OF ZACATECAS, WITH A WINNING TIME OF 32:37.2, TOOK THE $500 FIRST-PLACE PRIZE AT THE END OF THE 10K RUN THAT FEATURED A CHILLING SPRINT ACROSS THE 2.37-MILE QUEEN ISABELLA MEMORIAL CAUSEWAY. LILIAN MARIITA, ANOTHER ZACATECAS RUNNER WHO TOOK HOME A $500 CASH PRIZE, WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE, CLOCKING IN AT 36:25.7.
RAIN AND TEMPERATURES THAT DIPPED INTO THE MID 30S SLASHED THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES TO ABOUT 3,400 FROM ABOUT 4,800 LAST YEAR, SAID ORGANIZER BETTY WELLS, PRESIDENT OF THE PORT ISABEL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. “IT’S DOWN, DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE WEATHER,” WELLS SAID AFTER THE RACE. “WE’VE BEEN GROWING EVERY YEAR. THIS YEAR WE WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO 5,000 IF IT WASN’T FOR THE WEATHER.”
THE RUN BEGAN AT THE PORT ISABEL COMMUNITY CENTER AND ENDED AT LOUIE’S BACKYARD RESTAURANT ON THE ISLAND. THE RUNNERS BRAVED TEMPERATURES THAT AT ONE POINT REGISTERED 36 DEGREES. A STRONG WIND DROVE A HARD RAIN INTO THE RUNNERS AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY OVER THE CAUSEWAY AND ONTO THE ISLAND. MOST WERE DRESSED AGAINST THE COLD AND RAIN, WITH HEAVY JACKETS, CAPS AND GLOVES, AND RAIN GEAR. BUT SEVERAL RUNNERS CHOSE TO RUN ONLY IN RUNNING SHORTS AND SHORT-SLEEVED SHIRTS.
THEY WERE ALL HAPPY TO MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE.
