Fitness Seychelles-Jean-Baptiste pulverises Mahe Crazy Challenge record |27 November 2009
Jean-Baptiste, 25, clocked 10 hours 53 minutes 13 seconds (10h53:13) to knock 21 minutes
“I knew I would break the record and I am capable of going even faster,” said Jean-Baptiste, who is an Anse Aux Pins resident but has been working at the Lemuria Resort on Praslin for the past seven years.
“I will compete again next year and make sure I improve the time. Had I not waited for my cousin (Medrick Jean-Baptiste) along the way to massage his tired legs, I would have reached the Stad Popiler earlier. It was only on reaching Anse Forbans that I told him I had to go because I wanted to break the record,” he added.
Jean-Baptiste has been running for a year and occasionally competes in the eco-healing runs and long-distance races organised by the Seychelles Athletics Federation.
Medrick Jean-Baptiste was second in 11h39:49.
Runner-up behind Claude Payet in last year’s challenge with a time of 12h44:02, Hervé Nicholas finished third this time in 12h03:32.
Jimmy Jacques was fourth in 13h29:05, almost 8 minutes slower than his time of 13h21:12 which earned him third position in 2008.
Oganised by the Sports for All Unit within the National Sports Council, the Mahe Crazy Challenge is held annually.
The hikers left Stad Popiler at 6am and headed for Bel Ombre via Anse Etoile. They then took a footpath leading to Anse Major and Cap Ternay. After walking along the western coast, they headed south to reach Takamaka before returning to the Stad Popiler via the Providence Highway.
G. G.