Tuesday, J/P Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO) of American actor Sean Penn, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action (MJSAC) and the Haitian Amateur Athletics Federation (FHAA), presented the group of Haitian runners who will represent Haiti for the first time at New York City Marathon Sunday, November 3, along with nearly 45,000 runners from different countries come to compete in this course of 42,195 km, of world renown.

These are 3 men : Astrel Clovis, 43 (Cayes), Pétrus Césarion, 31 (Arcahaie), Jean Macksony, 27 (Cayes), and 2 women : Bertine Lainé, 31 (Cayes) and Carline Lamour, 21 (Petit-Goâve). Our runners will leave Haiti on October 29, to go to the United States and become familiar with the climate before the competition.

Gary Philoctète, Director of J/P HRO Haiti, recalled We have made choice of runners starting the marathon organized by the Mayor of Petion-ville and MJSAC, June 9 and I believe that with their performance, they will roperly represent the country."

During an initial presentation in August, Sean Penn had declared, "We are excited to provide an opportunity to these talented Haitian athletes to compete with other athletes on the world stage [...] these men and women will participate in one of the largest competitive world events, while emphasizing the enduring spirit of Haiti [...]"

This sport initiative aims to raise funds to contribute to the reconstruction of Haiti and help local athletes to make a name internationally.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9252-haiti-sports-5-haitian-athletes-in-the-marathon-in-new-york-thanks-to-sean-penn.html

BF/ HaitiLibre