Maximilien Vanicatte wins Reto Del Indio: ‘This year was more difficult’

French Maximilien Vanicatte he did it again; he won Indian Challenge 2024 at a distance of 160 kilometers in one of the most difficult pedestrian tests on the continent where the Isthmus of Panama is crossed from the community Health in the Caribbean Sea to Playa Blanca in it Pacific Ocean.

Vanicatte managed to complete the trip in 20 hours, 20 minutes and 55 seconds, the second reached the finish line Jose Varcasia with 21:32:00 and third Rodrigo Cardonza with 23:22:00.

In the women’s branch, the winner was Thelma Camargo with a record of 28 hours, 9 minutes and 22 seconds with 28:35:06, followed by Dora Lagos and Ana Lía Espinosa with 35:47:38.

At a distance of 105 kilometers, there were three best Carlos Correa with a time of 15 hours, 19 minutes and 51 seconds, José lonso 15:20:00 and Rubén Marín with 15:20:09. While Andrea Bascone won the women’s competition with a time of 16:08:39, followed by Rocío Alvarado with 19:02:48, Martha Córdoba with 19:49:38 and Carla De Obaldía with 20:12:34.

“Each race is unique. Last year was beautiful, this year was very difficult. Mental battle at 40 kilometers. Varcacia We started the race very strongly, we drove the first 11 kilometers at a pace of 5’20. At the 9th kilometer I took the first place and I continue at a good pace. At the 47th kilometer there was no (help) and I was left with little water for 48 km. I had to drink water from the river so I wouldn’t get dehydrated,” said monarch El Reto del Indio.

“I stayed in the Las 3 Hermanas sector for a very short time thanks to the support of the volunteers. Every year I hate the section from Las 3 Hermanas to Anton’s valleyI think this year was worse. I went through very hard times, I had to take a 10 minute nap. I felt like I wasn’t moving forward, I was counting every kilometer to get there in the Valley. Running alone all night is not easy, and finding people at the “aid station” gave me a lot of encouragement. I saw that I was behind compared to last year, but I continued with enthusiasm to try to break my record” he describes Vanicette.

“This time I went down hill Bagpipes with dawn and that, unlike running at night, I was doing it with light,” he said.

Frenchman Vanicatte added to that reach Valley he received it Monica and informed him that he had 8 minutes to go and ordered a sancocho and a quesadilla.

“They were so effective that it took me 6 minutes. I left strong, I felt full of energy. The ascent of Cerro Cara Iguana was fast. But little by little the pain in the kidney started, which prevented me from running downhill. I had to I alternated between running and walking. When I felt better the sun was strong, my legs were present but I had very strong global fatigue. My body wanted to run, I wanted to run but my mind stopped me. It was very frustrating not to win the mind. This is where one has to improve,” said the Frenchman.

He also reported that there were still 15 kilometers left to go. “I fell to the floor and rested for 10 minutes. I was afraid that José Barcacía would pass me, but at that moment I didn’t care. When I got up, I felt much better and from there I was able to run almost to the last,” he pointed out is.

“Passing the Interamericana, they tell me second place is right behind, from then on I pushed like crazy and finished the last 4 kilometers in a 5’00 pace. The last straight line… in the sand… “How hard. I heard people shouting encourage me, I ended up running but dead. Thank you to everyone, the organization, the volunteers, the people who congratulated me,” said the Frenchman.

Ultramarathon Maximilien Vanicatte, Last year he won at 160 kilometers with a time of 18:43:00.

In the women’s 55 kilometer race, she was the winner Guadalupe Ruiz with a record of 6 hours, 37 minutes and 41 seconds. The second place went to him Cristina “Canelita” Mata with 6:48:00 and third for Antonella Alessandria with 7:21:48.

He was the best in the male category Aldhier Torres Mendoza with 5:07:45, followed by Frenchman Bastien Guezou with 5:12:12 and Rodolfo López Lassonde with 5:44:55.

Mendoza, debuted in Indian challenge and said he liked the route, “of course pleased with the result; hill of Cerro Cara Iguana, It was the most complicated for me, but then everything went downhill and when the sun came I had to hydrate well to avoid cramps and fatigue. – Thank God and the team.