Round Mahé crazy challenge |14 November 2015

Adrienne, Amasogno win longest race on Mahé

One of the toughest fitness challenges was held last weekend and the competitors had to trek around the island of Mahé and only 10 of them – five women and five men – reached the finish line.

As part of the usual series of ‘Crazy challenges’, indeed it proved to be a tough test as some hikers even took over 16 hours to complete the course which began and ended at Stad Popiler.

Herbert Adrienne was first across the finish line after he completed the challenge in 10 hours 40 minutes 05 second (10h40:05) to win the R2,000 first prize.

This is Adrienne’s third win after past triumphs in 2011 and 2014.

Second place went to Michel Dixie who took 11h32:05 to arrive at the finish line while Jimmy Jacques was ranked third with 14h35:12. Marc Jean-Baptiste (14h35:12) and Raymond Florentine (16h17:50) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Anita Amasogno was third overall with a time of 13h06:39 to take first prize – R2,000 – in the women’s category.

Maggy Harray clocked that same time of 13h06:39 to finish second and Florise Ernesta (13h41:07) was placed third.

Fourth and fifth places went to Nelda Freminot (14h35:12) and Zaklin Miklos (15h13:40).

Jimmy Jacques and Florise Ernesta were also rewarded for being the oldest athletes while Marc Jean-Baptiste and Anita Amasogno were the youngest.

Thirty-six competitors took the start at Stad Popiler and 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.

The men’s record of 8h52:09 was set by James Barra in 2012, while Simone Jaffa holds the women’s record of 12h23:56 set in 2010.

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

S. N.