PHA All Star Challenge

PHA Swim, Run, Swim, Run

 Palm Heights Athletic hosted a summer of collective movement on Seven Mile Beach. Celebrating the joy and social aspect of movement involving dance, run and swim classes. PHA curated and hosted experts in their field to come to Cayman and share experiences and expertise with the local community, hotel guests and resident artists alike. 

The high point of the summer’s programming was the All-Star Challenge where the community and guests formed teams of two to challenge visiting All-Stars from across the globe. 

The first in an ongoing series introduced to Cayman the talents of Aja Evans, Olympic Medallist in the two-man bob and former all-American track and field champion, Alice Dearing, Olympic Open Water Swimmer, Darius Fleming, former NFL line-backer and Superbowl Champion and Michael Gunning, Jamaican international swimmer. 

Taking place on Seven Mile Beach on a course devised by The Swim Mechanic, Bryan Mineo and Palm Heights the teams swam two 400 metres legs of a buoyed course and two 800m beach runs. Twelve teams of two challenged the All-Stars. Local star Kyra Rabess, fresh off her Commonwealth Games competition was hot local favourite. 

In a hotly contested race the lead changed a number of times but by the second swim leg Kyra’s partner runner Eva Hider had put enough distance between her and the All-Star runners Aja and Darius to allow Kyra to glide into the swim leg with the finesse and poise beyond her years. Eva ran a smooth final 800m leg allowing them to claim the first-ever All-Star Challenge Champions Conch. 

PHA aims to host more All-Star Challenges coming into the holiday season. Local challengers and sports groups are encouraged to take part by contacting PHA directly. Please email reservations@palmheights.com for more information.