PHILIPSBURG--SXM Tri Academie turned the tables on last year’s winner Inter-Generation Runners to win the 35th edition of the Around Island Relay Race on November 11. SXM Tri Academie finished third last year but were on brilliant form this year, winning in a time of 2:13:21, some seven minutes ahead of Inter-Generation Runners team IGR 1 (2:20:31)
The new SXM Roadrunners team pulled out a surprise, completing the race in third position (2: 24:07) while the Gendarmerie team Quick Blue came in fourth. The French side Fire Department ASPSXM came in fifth (2:31:39). The Gendarmerie had four teams in the race.
Dynamics Elite emerged the top Junior team in sixth place (2:35:30) while the first of the three pre-Junior teams Dynamics Forever finished in 32nd place (3:15:57).
This year 48 teams participated, a few shy of the 52 last year. The race was run anti-clockwise with the Mount William Hill leg replaced by the Sucker Garden/Defiance Haven leg.
There was disappointment for SXtreme Charlie Delta team who would have placed second overall but were disqualified for an infringement of the rules on one leg when the baton was exchanged during the leg due a late arriving runner.
“Whoever starts the leg has to finish it. You can’t change the baton during the leg,” explained Susy Piscione later. “It was tough to break the news to them because they ran amazingly well.”
The Remarkable Feet award went to born St. Maartener Remi Conte (24) who ran the last leg for SXM Tri Academie and was the fastest runner on that leg. He was recognised for his amazing second place in his category at the World Championships in Utah last month. He turns professional next year and is already putting St. Maarten on the Triathlon map.
The Best Dressed Team prize went to Pain Cave for their creative running uniform. Complete results are on www.trisportsxm.com.
