Athletics: Cross-country series-Best times for good finale |12 February 2008

Comeback kid Andrew Florentine, Randolph Prudence, Victoria Ali, Simone Japha and Simon Labiche re-wrote the record books before the top-three finishers on points in each category at the end of the four races received their cash prizes.

After only one week’s training, Andrew Florentine, who had missed the first three races, lined up for the male U20 4-lap (8km) race and he stopped the clock at 30 minutes 59.7 seconds (30:59.7) to erase Joliff Cousin’s old best time of 33:08.7 from the record books.

“My coach (Mikola Avilov) told me that I could do it (break the record) and he asked me to concentrate on what I had to do. I’ve done and I’m happy,” 17-year-old Florentine told Sports Nation.

Randolph Prudence is slowly developing into a good cross-country runner and record breaker. After erasing Andrew Florentine’s boys’ U18 two-lap (4km) time of 14:39.2 from the record books with a clocking of 14:35.0 in the third race of the series, Prudence sliced just over 20 seconds off his own time, stopping the clock at 14:14.8.

After getting the girls’ U16 one-lap (2km) record of 8:35.6 in her first participation during race number three, Victoria Ali returned to the Roche Caïman fitness trail last Saturday and ran much faster this time. Her time of 8:31.5 has gone down as a new best time.

Simone Japha warmed up for the African Southern Region cross-country slated for  Lusaka, Zambia (on Saturday February 23) by improving her female senior 4-lap (8km) category time of 33:57.8 with a new best time of 33:24.8.

“The race was quite easy and it was a good preparation for the Southern Region cross-country. I’m also looking forward to participating in track events,” said the 30-year-old.

The fifth best time was registered by Simon Labiche who dipped below the 40-minute mark over 6 laps (12km) for only the second time in his career. The 37-year-old clocked 39:04.4 to better his previous best effort of 39:59.9.

“I’m satisfied with the way I ran today (Saturday). I targeted beating my old best time and I did it. But I’m not happy with the change in the course each time there is a race. I feel that I ran more than 12 kilometres today (Saturday).  Now I’ll wait and see if I’ll be selected for the IAAF World Cross-country Championships (in Edinburgh, Scotland),” said Labiche.

To qualify for cash prizes in the different age categories, the participants must have participated in a minimum three races.
 In the girls’ U16 category, only Stephanie Underwood competed in at least three races. Julia Brown won the boys’ U16 division ahead of Jordan Scott (runner-up) and Joshua Juliette (third place finisher).

Stephanie Augustin won the girls’ U18 division, while Randolph Prudence was ranked first in the boys’ category. Randy Gappy finished second and Alex Confait took third place. The cash prizes in those two age categories were as follows: R100 (winners), R75 (runners-up) and R50 (third place finishers).

Simone Japha won the women’s senior category, just like Alexandra Kment (female veteran), Simon Labiche (men’s senior) and José Victor (male veteran). Vincent Confait settled for second position in the male veteran division.
All the four category winners received R350, while Confait pocketed R230.

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The complete results of the fourth race

Girls U16 – 1 lap (2 km)
1st Victoria Ali – 8:31.5 (new best time)
2nd Marie-Antoinette Robert – 8:49.7
3rd Natifa Youpa – 8:59.6
4th Julia Reinschmidt – 9:01.4
5th Stephanie Underwood – 9:15.1

Boys U16 – 1 lap (2 km)
1st Kenneth Nourrice – 8:29.7
2nd Jordan Scott – 8:31.0
3rd Lucas Panayi – 9:17.5
4th Joshua Juliette – 10:01.0

Boys U18 – 2 laps (4 km)
1st Randolph Prudence – 14:14.8 (new best time)
2nd Alex Confait – 16:19.0

Girls U18 – 2 laps (4 km)
1st Stephanie Augustin – 21:49.6

Male junior – 4 laps (8km)
1st Andrew Florentine – 30:59.7 (new best time)

Female senior – 4 laps (8 km)
1st Simone Japha – 33:24.8 (new best time)

Female veteran – 3 laps (6 km)
1st Alexandra Kment – 31:23.5

Male senior – 6 laps (12 km)
1st Simon Labiche – 39:04.4 (new best time)

Male veteran – 4 laps (8 km)
1st José Victor – 34:10.7

G. G.