Athletics: Sixth Seychelles Eco-Friendly Marathon-Labiche makes comeback to clinch fifth win |25 February 2013

Labiche clocked 3 hours 02 minutes 02 seconds (3h02:02) which is his worst result since the beginning of the Seychelles Eco-friendly marathon as he reclaimed his title from last year’s winner James Barra who won the race in 3h06:49.
Former soldier Labiche’s previous four wins were much faster, clocking 2h41:25 (in 2008), 2h37:38 (in 2009), 2h44:09 (in 2010) and 2h46:3 (2011).

Like last year, the women’s title went to a South African after Vorster clocked 3h33:44 to replace her compatriot Monica Neuling who won last year’s race in 3h36:41.

Vorster is the third South African to win the race after Joanne Elizabeth Jones won the inaugural race in 2008 in 4h09:45.
Seychellois Simone Jaffa has won the race for three consecutive years – 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Other than the marathon, there were the half-marathon (21.0975km) running, 10km running, 10km walking and 5.5km running.
New this year was the relay marathon and team Scorpion from the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces were the grand winners in the men’s group, while the Anse Royale secondary school were the women’s winners.
Altogether there were 1,066 runners – 585 males and 481 females.

In yesterday’s marathon which started at Beau Vallon, competitors aged 18 years and over ran towards Mount Simpson (Bel Ombre) before returning to Beau Vallon and headed to Victoria via Glacis, Anse Etoile, English River, 5th June Avenue and Bois de Rose Avenue.

They then headed to the Clock Tower in Victoria via Bois de Rose Avenue and Francis Rachel Street. After going round the Clock Tower, they went along Independence Avenue and 5th June Avenue, then via English River, Anse Etoile and Glacis on the way back to Beau Vallon.

R. D.