11th Eco-friendly Marathon - Ironman Baldwin takes maiden win |26 February 2018

● American Brittany Powell women’s winner

Thirty-year-old Seychellois triathlete Nick Baldwin took first place at this year’s Eco-friendly Marathon which started at Beau Vallon yesterday morning, while American Brittany Powell won the women’s race.

This year, the competition saw the involvement of around 3,000 people with over 56 different nationalities competing in the different races ‒ marathon, half-marathon (21km), 10km and 5km.

The races began promptly at 7am and competitors taking part in the marathon and half-marathon were the first to go. Among this group was Nick Baldwin who had finished third in the Ironman Australia last year with a career best and decided to transit from triathlon to marathon 12 weeks ago with the aim of improving his running and testing his ability.

Baldwin won the energy-sapping marathon in 2 hours 55 minutes 19 seconds (2h55:19).

“It was a really difficult race, I expected it to be tough and I came here with a goal to try and get as close as possible to Simon’s (Labiche, 2h37:38) course record. So I went out trying to hold that pace for the first 15km and from 15km to 20km I had a really bad patch, I lost some time and started to slow down and I wanted to stop, but I managed to keep it going. I have a lot of respect for Simon’s course record, it’s really fast. I didn’t have a very long training time, but I did do a lot of running, sadly it just wasn’t enough to go under the course record,” said Baldwin.

Runner-up Beniamino Pellegrini ended his tough race in 3h04:49, while Au Cap’s Geno Belle, last year’s winner, could only take third place yesterday with a time of 3h27:50.

The women’s race came down to one specific winner, 26-year-old American Brittany Powell, who came to Seychelles for the first time and ended up winning first place in the marathon. A great achievement for her as she reached the finish line in 4h25:55.

“The most gorgeous run that I’ve ever been on for sure, so running that much in such a beautiful place made it so much easier, but it was very painful. The competition was very inspiring, the other women were a close challenge. It’s my first time in Seychelles and coming over here for vacation has been great,” said winner Brittany Powell.

Even from her enthusiasm and appreciation for the other athletes, Powell’s position seemed confirmed as the runner-up position went to Lye-Yeng Wong who ended the race in 4h42:51 ‒ 17 minutes away from the winner. Third place was taken by no other than Seychelles’ long distance runner and cross country record holder Ana Barra who finished in 4h51:49 and she was escorted to the finish line by members of her Top Racers club.

The half-marathon race was just as interesting as the performers made their way across Mahé. In the end it was Olga Bordiuzha who ended first in the women’s race by a big margin. She took the win after a 1h28:22 run, with a 20-minute difference from runner-up Lisa Abdellah who ended with a time of 1h48:11. Third place was awarded to 26-year-old Xu Jun after her close 1h49:16 finish.

Forty-two-year-old Justin Walker committed to a half-marathon race, ending with a guarantee as he took the win with a total time of 1h04:28. Second place was awarded to Petr Ulich after a 1h28:23 run and third position was awarded to current marathon record holder Simon Labiche who clocked 1h29:32.

In the shorter distance races, the athletes were classified into different age categories. The victors in the 5km race for men were Makhan Bristol-Cissoko (under-12), Shakib Rose (under-14), Harryson Henriette (under-18), Davis Bonne (senior), Joseph Mwoka (master 35-49 years), Gerry Legras (master 50 to 64 years) and Selwyn Medor (mater 65+ years)

For the women’s 5km race, Stacey Antoinette (under-12), Christina Ferley (under-14), Valerie Bristol (under-18), Terence Tamboo (senior), Carol Palmyre (master 35-49 years), Cynthia Lesperance (master 50-64 years)and Agnes Chong Seng (master 65+ years) were the victors in their categories.

For the 10km race the female winners were Oceanne Morel (under-16), Emlynn Itard (under-21), Penvilla Bredolt (senior), Vivienne Vadivello (master 40+ years) and Silvana Torsi (master 60+ years)

On the men’s side, Jeremiah Samson (under-16), Francesco Rocchi (under-21), Elvine Bonne (senior), Herbert Adrienne (master 40+ years) and Bryan Esparon (master 60+ years) were the winners.      

Top six results of the 11th Eco-friendly marathon

Marathon male: 1.Nick Baldwin (2h55:19), 2. Beniamino Pellegrini (3h04:49), 3. Geno Belle (3h27:50), 4. Kiyunghwan Woo (3h34:51), 5. Gerald Jaomaro (3h54:06), 6. Yong Chung Cho (3h57:09)

Marathon female: 1.Brittany Powell (4h25:55), 2. Lye-Yeng Wong (4h42:51), 3. Ana Barra (4h51:49), 4. Pene Vogt (4h58:56), 5. Leigh Moore (5h16:08), 6. Miklos Zsaklin (5h16:28)

Half marathon male: 1.Justin Walker (1h04:28), 2. Petr Ulich (1h28:23), 3. Simon Labiche (1h29:32), 4. Andrew Florentine (1h30:47), 5. Simon Masambu (1h31:01), 6. Kenneth Pascale (1h35:14)

Half marathon female: 1.Olga Bordiuzha (1h28:22), 2. Lisa Abdellah (1h48:11), 3. Xu Jun (1h49:16), 4. Lynne Gerberhy (1h56:11), 5. Miriam Baker (2h01:07), 6. Marie Parant (2h06:12)

10km male under-16: 1. Jeremiah Samson (43:54), 2. Larus Robin (44:11), 3. Joshua Albert (50:38), 4. Ivar Mattison (53:50), 5. Kurt La Joie (54:31), 6. Matthew Rouillon (58:51)

10km male under-21: 1. Francesco Rocchi (47:49), 2. Anil Cherlette (53:26), 3. Caulvyn Bristol (55:36), 4. Antoine Thierion (55:59), 5. Eldon Baxen (57:59), 6. Duane Hill (1h02:59)

10km male senior: 1. Elvine Bonne (40:48), 2. Hom Thapamagar (40:57), 3. Tyson Mulinya (42:23), 4. Delvick Agure (42:28), 5. Alvin Aguvasu (43:15), 6. Andre Relaza (45:07)

10km male master 40+: 1. Herbert Adrienne (42:19), 2. Brian Charlette (42:22), 3. Liyana Arachchi Sampath (42:46), 4. Alain Volcere (45:35), 5. France Jean (49:15), 6. Joshue Victor (49:19)

10km male master 60+: 1. Bryan Esparon (1h00:29), 2. Jules Larue (1h12:39), 3. Peter Brinn (1h13:44), 4. Bruce Golby (1h17:37), 5. Mervyn Chase (1h22:50), 6. Michel Vidot (1h35:41)

10km female under-16: 1. Oceanne Morel (43:19 New Record), 2. Larah Seraphine (48:56), 3. Everly Suzette (49:51), 4. Teerah Javotte (55:09), 5. Sheryl Confiance (57:44), 6. Tiya Patel (1h03:46)

10km female under-21: 1. Emylnn Itard (49:50), 2. Ella Lagerheim (1h11:05), 3. Maria Meriton (1h12:22), 4. Frances Benstrong (1h19:07), 5. Alisha Dixie (1h24:40), 6. Shamila Barra (1h29:21)

10km female senior: 1. Penvilla Bredolt (49:50), 2. Samia Confiance (52:48), 3. Meedora William (58:53), 4. Fatimah Bouabbas (59:05), 5. Luisa Waye-Hive (59:42), Reka Vincze (59:59)

10km female master 40+: 1. Vivienne Vadivello (52:57), 2. Jeannette Accouche (1h01:25), 3. Josianne Medor (1h06:01), 4. Lucty Barois (1h11:58), 5. Gabrielle Koenemann (1h13:09), 6. Catherine Wassenberg (1h17:59)

10km female master 60+: 1. Silvana Torsi (50:54), 2. Silvana David (1h42:23), 3. Marie-Euprasie Golby (1h47:44), 4. Doris Tirant (1h53:41), 5. Marie-Ange Sabino (2h00:32)

5km male under-12: 1. Makhan Bristol-Cissoko (22:58), 2. Sheldon Benoiton (23:06), 3. Gael Denis (24:02), 4. Raphael Roselie (24:10), 5. Angelo Joubert (25:32), 6. Jordan Baker (25:37)

5km male under-14: 1. Shakib Rose (22:34), Francesco Joubert (22:42), 3. Shaquille Songoire (23:12), 4. Eli Sopha (24:01), 5. Rheeno Lawen (25:29), 6. Frederick Moustache (25:39)

5km male under-18: 1. Harryson Henriette (19:54), 2. Rodriguo Thelemaque (20:00), 3. Caleb Vadivello (20:17), 4. Serge Belmont (20:22), 5. Angelo Fred (20:23), 6. Hedley Havelock (20:42)

5km male under-35: 1. David Bonne (19:40), 2. Richard Otieno (19:44), 3. Adrien Choisy (19:59), 4. Ronny Dufrene (20:27), 5. Terence Tamboo (20:53), 6. Tony Victor (20:55)

5km male master 35-49: 1. Joseph Mwoka (21:31), 2. Dennis Bamboche (21:42), 3. François Jeremie (23:46), 4. Damith Weligepola (23:46), 5. Allen Commettant (24:37), 6. Michel Commettant (26:21)

5km male master 50-64: 1. Gerry Legras (25:08), 2. Roy Colin (27:35), 3. Emmanuel Freminot (28:26), 4. Jude Chang-King (31:02), 5. Christopher Hoareau (31:50), 6. Jovencio Visperas (35:21)

5km male master 65+: 1. Selwyn Medor (34:34), 2. Arnold Antao (43:21), 3. Philippe Chong Seng (44:54), 4. Michael Seeward (47:44), 5. Bernard Sham-Laye (50:13), 6. Jean-Claude D’Offay (52:30)

5km female under-12: 1. Stacey Antoine (21:06), 2. Lehansa Jayatilake (24:05), 3. Julia Julia (24:40), 4. Natifa Hollanda (26:19), 5. Sofiya Gelev (27:55), 6. Chloe Joubert (28:49)

5km female under-14: 1. Christina Ferley (26:57), 2. Mia Gedosev (28:09), 3. Maeve Esparon (32:17), 4. Shania Samedi (32:19), 5. Marie-Ella Marie (33:28), 6. Adelle Lefevre (34:33)

5km female under-18: 1. Valerie Bristol (18:51), 2. Danielle Ferley (22:23), 3. Shanan Jouaneau (24:46), 4. Krishnan Pillay (27:25), 5. Martina Ceccato (29:39), 6. Michelle Henderson (30:24)

5km female under-35: 1. Paula Karydis (26:42), 2. Nadeeka Peieia (27:26), 3. Sheena Quatre (28:05), 4. Sharon Emanuel (28:11), 5. Sara Anderson (29:18)

5km female master 35-49: 1. Carol Palmyre (27:21), 2. Maria La Corte (27:24), 3. Linda Freminot (30:40), 4. Brenda Larue (32:21), 5. Nicole Chionni (32:30), 6. Rania Cedras (33:04)

5km female master 50-64: 1. Cynthia Lesperance (34:10), 2. Bernette Leon (34:56), 3. Ireney Moses (36:48), 4. Marie-May Hoareau (38:14), 5. Donyxia Wang (38:22), 6. Marguerite-Marie Moise (39:04)

5km female master 65+: 1. Agnes Chong Seng (48:43), 2. Celine Saurer (49:33), 3. Noella Sham Laye (51:13), 4. Goergette Marengo (51:42), 5. Jeanette D’Offay (52:30), 6. Clothidle Cessaire (53:20)

Rodney Rose