WILLEMSTAD - In his final race in Curaçao, Churandy Martina won his 100-meter heat this weekend with a time of 10.36 seconds. He achieved this feat on the track where his illustrious career began: the SDK Stadium in Brievengat. Moreover, it was the first time in nineteen years that he competed in a race on his own island.
The 39-year-old sprint veteran ultimately finished fourth in the 100 meters with a time of 10.36. Hensley Paulina, also from Curaçao, claimed victory in 10.25.
"It's very special for me to run here. The circle is complete," said Martina, who is in his final year as an athlete, before the sprint tournament on his native soil.
Martina still hopes for a sixth participation in the Olympic Games. To achieve this, he must secure a spot in the Dutch relay team for the 4x100 meters.
Bonevacia
Liemarvin Bonevacia finished second in the 400 meters during the Sprintfest with a time of 45.21, just above the Paris Olympic Games limit (45.00). Taymir Burnet was the fastest among men in the 150 meters with a time of 15.28.
For Burnet, returning to Curaçao to train in the warmth of the island has always been a dream. "I have friends joining me in training here. That's something I don't have in the Netherlands. I really enjoy it."
A large group of Dutch athletes is preparing for the World Relay Championships next weekend in the Bahamas on the Caribbean island, including Femke Bol and Lieke Klaver. They have improved their personal records at the Curaçao Sprintfest.
Bol achieved this in the 100 and the unusual 150 meters, while Klaver improved herself in the 100 meters. Olympic berths must be secured by the relay teams in these events.