PHILIPSBURG—The Insel Air Cocktail Team from Curacao won the 28th Annual Around-the- Island Relay Race on Wednesday in 1:55:28, shaving three and a half minutes off their time of last year when they came in second.
Their strategy to send off their fastest runners in the beginning to set a blisteringly fast pace paid off handsomely and they never relinquished the lead. The record time for the race was not immediately available.
SXM Tri Academie, who won last year’s event in 1:58:19, was second in 2:08:36 and Arcon Engineering finished third in 2:14:16.
The 15-19 age category was won by Avenir Sportif Club in 2:24:29, Love Team from Grand Case was second in 2:27:36 and MPC Students third (2:32:48).
The Dynamic Sports Club won the Junior Juniors (14 and under) in 2:36:21. Their youngest runner was Carlos Bryson (6). Learning Unlimited Red Team was second in 3:08:03 and LU Blue Team third (3:09:41).
Rainy and overcast conditions made it perfect weather for running for the 55 teams and 550 competitors. It was mayhem on the roads with team cars, pick-up trucks, bikes and motorbikes, and masses of cheering supporters at transition points contributing to an up-beat start to St. Martin Day.
One of the feel good moments of the morning was seeing Over 40s team member and stroke victim Koos de Klerk being handed a Presidente at the top of Mount William Hill after completing his leg. Koos was given the Most Remarkable Feet award for his effort at the prize giving. French-side MP Daniel Gibbs was also seen completing the last leg for the Carib Swim Team.
The Best Dressed Team went to Atlantic Signs Team.
“Seeing Curacao come here and take the trophy at full speed is a wake-up call for St. Maarten,” organising committee member Juan Pablo Piscione commented. “At the same time we want to make the race more international. That’s why we debuted the GPS timing. The system worked but as Orange does not have a contract with TELEM the race could not be followed live, but it can be seen in replay mode.”
