More than 500 participants from countries around the world lined up for the start of Marathon Bahamas 2010 at Montague Beach on Sunday morning, and hundreds more lined the 26-miles course to cheer on family, friends and their favorites.
Athletes from Jamaica, Canada, United States, Trinidad and Tobago, Great Britain, Australia, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Netherlands Antilles, Hungary and South Africa took part in the first marathon event to be held in The Bahamas in over 20 years.
First to the finish line in the men's full marathon division was Bahamian Delroy Bootle. Bahama Mama Nadia Vangehr was first to cross the line in the women's division.
In addition to cash incentives, last week Marathon Bahamas announced that first place finishers in the full marathon would receive complimentary vacation stays in New Providence as well as complimentary flights with Spirit Airlines.
Held under the patronage of Olympic gold medalist and IAAF Council member Pauline Davis-Thompson, Marathon Bahamas is led by a corporate group that has as its core value, "the taking of initiatives which build the common good as well as promote The Bahamas around the world."
The Bahamas now joins an elite group of countries around the world that hosts an international marathon. On behalf of the government, the Minister of Youth Sports and Culture Charles Maynard, congratulated the organizers for making the event "such a proud achievement of The Bahamas."
Fraklyn Wilson, Chairman of Marathon Bahamas noted that their team worked with "fervor" to be faithful to the original vision for the marathon. He said, "One key element of that vision was to create an event which for participants would be unique in part because of its location in The Bahamas, but otherwise would be competitive in standard with marathons of much larger tenure." Wilson expressed his thanks to the government for its strong support through its various ministries (Tourism, Sports and Education), along with support from the Royal Bahamas Police Force. Additionally he thanked those business and individuals in the public and private sectors that played a roll in the success of the marathon.
Plans are to make Marathon Bahamas an annual event, but there has not been an official announcement that it would be held annually; but with so much success in 2010 it is likely that 2011 will also see Marathon Bahamas.
As it relates to additional prizes Atlantis, Paradise Island; Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort; Breezes Bahamas; and, Wyndham Nassau Resort each provided vacation stays for winners in the following categories: first place overall, male or female; first place female among visitors to The Bahamas; first place male among visitors; first place female among residents of The Bahamas; first place male among residents of The Bahamas; and first place in the open wheel chair category from among both males and females.
Bally Total Fitness provided a gym membership each for the first place finishers among male and female residents of The Bahamas.
BahamasAir offered a round trip ticket in The Bahamian network for the top male and female Bahamian/Bahamian resident finishers, in the adult and junior categories, for the full marathon and half marathon divisions.
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