21 km from Saint Barth: a fantastic first edition

It’s not even 7 a.m. yet, and the first participants in the Saint-Barthélemy 21K are already crossing the finish line. Setting off at 5:30 a.m. from the parking lot of the Collectivité hotel, the 300 participants in the first sporting event organized entirely by the sports department embarked on the 21-kilometer course that took them from Gustavia to Saint-Jean, Lorient, Salines, and Public, with the finish line located in front of the Wall House. But there were a few extra challenges, such as the climb up the stairs leading to the Gustavia lighthouse or the section along Saint-Jean Beach.
Stéphane Lenoir was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 1:24:19, followed very closely by Fabien Husson and Alexis Wozniak. The leading trio stayed together until the 9th kilometer, the climb up to Saline. “Then I picked up the pace a little, and on the descent they fell behind,” explains Stéphane Lenoir. “I kept up the pace until we got back to Saline, the second climb. Alexis caught up on the climbs. Then I’d let him go on the descents. Fabien caught up later, but it was tough toward the end. I thought it was going to be harder with the climb to the lighthouse and the beach. In the end, it went well. Maybe I was in better shape than usual.”
Fabien Husson finished 29 seconds behind the winner. “The course is tough,” says Fabien. “I really went in with a strategy of pacing myself. Saving a little in reserve so I could accelerate a bit at the end. I fell a little short. That’s the game, it’s cool. The course is great. The volunteers too. We were safe on the road. It was another great event.”
As for Alexis Wozniak, who finished 3rd with “a little frustration at the finish. I felt good at the start of the race. I led for a few stretches. On every climb, I pulled away a bit. From Saline on, Stéphane went off on his own up front. I started getting cramps halfway through the race. I could feel Fabien catching up on the descents. A bit of frustration at the finish line from getting passed in the last two kilometers. That’s the game—they were stronger today. Very happy despite everything. I’m on the podium. I’ll be better next time. They better watch out. We’ll keep going.”
Congratulations to all the participants.

Reactions
Some reactions from the runners upon their arrival on the Wall House plaza: “It’s an incredible race” “Great event” “Very well organized” “We felt safe on the road” “Thanks to the volunteers” “I hope there will be more editions” “Dreamlike scenery”

Olivier Basset (1:27:32)
“It’s a race of pacing; the end was very tough. The beach section went really well. La Tourmente too. But Gustavia really took it out of me. On the last kilometer, my spirits were starting to drop. But when I saw I was at 1:26 by the Post Office, I picked up the pace a little. That’s why I’m so tired. But it was really great.”

Hamza Mimouni (1:28:07)
“I arrived on the island three weeks ago. As soon as I got here, I signed up because it was a good challenge for me. It’s my first race in Saint-Barth and my first half-marathon. It’s incredible. It felt great. The climbs are a big challenge. I’m not a regular runner, but I have good cardio. I’m really happy to have finished—and in the top 10, too.”

Arman Mellot (1:32:44)

“I’m on vacation. A local told me about the race. I was lucky—I signed up just in time. I don’t regret it at all. It was an incredible race. The scenery is magnificent. The sunrise, the view of the bay, running on the beach next to Eden Rock. An incredible event and top-notch volunteers. This race served as a bit of a training run, even though I gave it my all, because in a month I’m running a 90-km race with a lot of elevation gain in Sancerre. It’s just as fun.”

Jean-Yann Bouchaut (1:36:09)

It’s a really beautiful race. Well-organized. It looks stunning from the outside, but when you’re running it, it’s tough—yet incredibly beautiful. You climb the steps to the lighthouse, then head down to Saint-Jean Beach. But the climbs are very steep. That made things a lot harder. That’s what makes the race so special. Once you’re in it, it’s pure fun. We’re happy to finish. You have to be well-trained to finish. I hope there will be more editions and that this is a race that will stand the test of time.

Mathieu Clavier (1:37:24)

“The course is just as tough as ever. It’s pretty much the same as it was four years ago. It’s always very demanding. Even if you run it all year round. It’s always very tough. The beach section: it’s hell. The footing is terrible. It’s not just that. There are also the stairs. It’s hell. So I’m glad to get back on flat ground every now and then.”