Simon Chuinard celebrates winning the ENNIA Marathon on Sunday as he crosses the finish line on Fort Amsterdam. (Robert Luckock photo)
BELAIR--Simon Chuinard from Saint-Barthélemy won the third annual St. Maarten Marathon on Sunday in a time of 3:23:45, shaving ten minutes off his previous and first St. Maarten marathon finish time of 3:33 in 2022.
Some 40 runners took to the start line at 4:15 am in darkness to run the 42K distance, a complete circumnavigation of the island, in cool and rainy conditions. From the 40 runners who started three did not finish.
All four categories of this truly international event organised by SXM Roadrunners--participants came from 16 different countries--finished on top of Fort Amsterdam, a lung-busting climb that kept the Red Cross and other emergency responders tending to a few runners suffering from exhaustion or cramp.
“It was an amazing race, I ran the first 20K with Moza Radou but he did not finish so I was running the last 20K alone and had a lead of around five minutes,” said Chuinard who works at the five-star Le Guanahani Hotel in St. Barths. “It was a tough race with all the hills. Normally I’m an ultra-trail runner so this is very different but it is still good training.”
Finishing in second place was Pablo Baez in 3:31:44, and Alexandre Pelizzare close behind in third place in 3:33:06. Pelizzare and Hughes Mercader (3:33: 30) battled for third place, with Mercader losing out on a podium place by 24 seconds to settle for fourth place.
The first female finisher for the marathon was Floor van der Meulen in 4:11:54, (13th overall), second Laura Grattenpanche 4.19.50, and third Elodie Leroy 4.37.39.
A big shout out to sailmaker Ernst Looser (25th Overall) who was running in the 60 plus category, finishing in 4:42:08.
SXM Tri Académie’s star athlete Gregory Pigeon who won the full marathon in 2023 opted to run the Tortuga Half Marathon instead this year, finishing first in 1:28:54.
“I chose to do the half marathon this year because in September he had some knee problems. I could do light training, but that’s not enough if you want to do the full marathon,” he explained. “ I wasn’t in the best shape for the Grand Case triathlon, but in the last two or three weeks I felt fit enough to do the half marathon.”
Second place went to Jordan Surriray in 1:29: 24 and third place to Alexis Wozniak. Some 76 runners entered for the Half Marathon. The first female to finish was Roma Dhanani in 1:53:58 (22nd overall ) second Margaux Delaporte 1.55.33 and third Anna Gerard 1.58.01.
Interesting to see Meks Teunissen running in the Boys under 18 and finishing the half marathon in 2:09: 50 (45th overall). At the other end of the age spectrum was regular stalwart Mary Wrigley finishing in 2:19:26.
The Country Club at Port de Plaisance 10K which attracted 79 runners was won by Omarco Robinson in 37:58, with Alain Boucaud second in 41:50 and Ianis Bourely in third place 41:54.
Popping up in a quick scan of the results showed French-side Chamber of Commerce Director General Julien Bataille finishing the 10K in 52:34 and National Alliance Member of Parliament (MP) in Opposition, Ardwell Irion, finishing in 1:03:58.
The first female to finish the 10K was Eloise Prudhomme in 48:36, second Susan ter Haar 52.37 and third Rae Lynne Kinler 53.53.
