BELAIR--Inter Generation Runners (IGR 1) team got the upper hand to win the 38th Sint Maarten’s Day Around the Island Relay Race after a closely fought battle with rival teams Iguana Fitness, and SXM Tri Academy, mere seconds separating the first two teams on the finish line.
IGR 1 team completed the race in 2:06:16, followed by Iguana Fitness (2:06:52) who had held the lead up to Orient Bay, and SXM Tri Academy came in third in 2: 09: 41. SXM Tri Academy had previously won the relay race three consecutive years in a row.
Sint Maarten Road Runners Team 1 had an excellent race taking fourth place overall in a time of 2:19: 54, given one of their runners almost didn’t make one of the changeovers, collapsing on the ground a few feet short with exhaustion but just managed to get the baton across the transition line. The team managed to overtake two or three teams to boost their advantage.
Dynamics “They can’t hold us” Team was the top junior team finishing in 2:25:19, in sixth overall, beating the Tri Sport Tigers A team in seventh overall (2:26:40). Second Junior team to finish was Avenir Sportif Club eighth overall in 2: 28:57 and third Junior team MPC students in 2:36:02
The Tri Sport Over 60s Lion’s team achieved their goal of finishing in 20th place in a time of 2:57:32. They started at the same time as all the other runners. In previous years the oldest team started an hour before everyone else.
The Remarkable Feat award was presented to Esnard Avanet, President of Dream of Trails. Not only a great trail runner, he is recognised as a role model and inspiration to all club members, and for introducing trail running to children and families.
Some 57 teams contested the relay race this year. While the event ran very smoothly, organiser SXM Roadrunners expressed disappointment that some motorists and taxis chose to disrespect runners on the road, sometimes coming dangerously close to them. This was pointed out by photographers on the course.
“The around the island relay race is a special part of Sint Maarten Day that has been held every year for 38 years. There is always plenty of publicity leading up to it so it's not as though the local population is unaware. There is the option to take a different route or exercise patience. Unfortunately not all cars want to cooperate or share the road,” regretted Roadrunners President, Krispijn Teunissen.
On a positive note, he added. “We received a lot of compliments for the new set up at Belair Community Centre, so much appreciation to them for hosting us and of course to all our sponsors and volunteers who made it a great success again.”
