PHILIPSBURG--Florentine Paanakker from SXM Roadrunners was the first female runner to finish Sunday’s ENNIA Full Marathon, crossing the finish line in tenth place overall in 3: 43:10.
She was comfortably ahead of Olivia Laurence finishing in 25th overall (4:21:03) and Aude Vermillard (Sapeurs Pompiers de Saint-Barth) in 26th place overall (4:21:04). Some 15 female runners took on the full Marathon distance of 42K.
It’s not the first marathon for Paanakker who has done marathons in Barcelona (2016) and Venice, and one in Amsterdam last year.
“St. Maarten was my fourth marathon but the first one to have so much elevation which made it different,” she said. “But actually, it felt better than I expected, especially starting in the dark at that time of the morning. It was only after the Union Road and going up Cole Bay Hill that it became challenging but I didn’t get cramp.
“In fact, I didn’t train much the three weeks before the marathon because I had some knee issues. I didn’t want to risk a more serious injury. But it worked out well and I felt pretty good. And I was pleasantly surprised about my time which was faster than Barcelona. My goal was to do it in four hours.”
Paanakker, who moved to the island in February this year, won the Guardian Group Run this year in October, winning a ticket to Curacao where she also won the Guardian Group run there, which then qualified her to run in Bonaire.
As for other sports she has been trying out Padel Tennis. “I like swimming, tennis and playing golf but running is my thing. I used to play field hockey pretty seriously. But when I quit hockey, I was looking for a new challenge and that’s how I started with the running in 2016 and doing the marathon in Barcelona. I did the training, gradually building up longer distances.”
Sunday’s very successful event organised by SXM Roadrunners attracted 85 female runners for the four events, 23 for the 5K run, 19 for the 10K, 28 for the Half Marathon, and 15 for the full marathon.
First finisher for the Half Marathon was Laura Commaret (independent) in 16th overall (1:50:39), Followed by Charlotte Overath (Intergeneration Runners) 17th overall (1:51:04) and Rianne van Rijswijk (independent) 18th overall (1:51: 28).
Britt Bollink (independent) was the first finisher for the 10K, in second overall (53:04). Eefje Vorage (Saba Triathlon) was second finisher, third overall (52:22) and Florence Gonon (Intergeneration Runners) fifth overall (53:51).
Gabrielle Paulette (Dynamics Club) was the first finisher for the 5K, 23rd overall (29:58), Sandy Offringa (SXM Roadrunners), 25th overall (30:11), and Kelly Straathof (SXM Roadrunners) 27th overall (31:26)
