Mahé Crazy challenge - Pene Vogt smashes women’s record |14 November 2017

Pene Vogt followed last year’s victory in theMahé crazy challenge with a new record this year.

After clocking 12 hours 32 minutes 23 seconds (12h32:23) last year to finish way off the standing record time of 12h23:56 held by Simone Jaffa since 2010, Vogt put in a strong performance in Saturday’s trek to not only retain the title by also smash the record.

The South African’s time at the finish line was 11h41:44, 44 minutes 12 seconds faster than Jaffa’s time which has now been removed from the record books.

Speaking to Seychelles NATION, Vogt had this to say:

“I so enjoyed my crazy challenge last year. But as I hadn’t done it before I was running blind and just hoped to finish. It was only when I finished that they told me I was a few minutes off the ladies’ record.

“This year I still didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself to beat the record. I just wanted to better my previous time. But the conditions were perfect for us, nice and cool with the odd bit of light rain.

“Once I realised I was well within the record time and as I got closer to the finish line this gave me more energy to get home. My nine-year-old son ran the last 5km with me along with friends who cheered me on the final stretch to bring me home.

“It was a good day and it is such a privilege to be able to participate in such an event. Well done to Francis Remy and his team for all their efforts”.

Second in the women’s race was Malagasy Corine Rasoonanteraria (12h39:14), third Seychellois Maggie Harray (13h05:57) and fourth Hungarian Zsaklin Miklos (13h15:07).

In total 15 women took the start of the race and only four completed the distance.

The men’s winner was Malagasy Gerard Jaomaro in 9h55:17 and he was followed in second place by his younger brother Hillaire Jaomaro (10h03:20).

Kenyan Kelvin Nganga was third in 11h40:54 to complete the medals’ standings.

The other six male competitors who completed the race were Leonard Nadomalala (fourth with 12h12:14), Hervé Nicholas (fifth with 12h16:30), Fred Ajode (sixth with 12h29:13), Houssan Ajeeb (seventh with 12h55:25), Jimmy Jacques (eighth with 13h05:25) and Raymond Florentine (ninth with 16h42:05).

According to the organisers there were 23 male competitors on the starting line at Stad Popiler.

The men’s record of 8h52:09 belongs to James Barra and he got it in 2012.

One of the toughest in Seychelles, the race started at Stad Popiler and the competitors headed for Bel Ombre via Anse Etoile. They then took a footpath leading to Anse Major and Cap Ternay. After walking and running along the western coast, they headed south to reach Takamaka before returning to the Stad Popiler via the Providence Highway.

Evolution of the Mahé crazy challenge men’s and women’s records

Men

2004: Philippe Louange – 14h30

2005: Payet twin brothers Gordon and Claude – 12h45

2006: Payet twin brothers Gordon and Claude – 11h14:22

2009: Roy Jean-Baptiste – 10h53:13

2010: James Barra – 9h03:18

2012: James Barra – 8h52 :09

Women

2006: Wilna Iman – 12h46:18

2010: Simone Jaffa – 12h23:56

2017: Pene Vogt ‒ 11h41:44

G. G.