Jason Barker wins the  Run Barbados Marathon

The curtains came down on 42 nd of the Run Barbados Marathon and Wellness Weekend with the running of the marathon and half-marathon last Sunday morning. 

Over 100 runners started the marathon, along with 360 in the half-marathon in a simultaneous start at the Bay Street Esplanade. 

   Scotland-based Jamaican runner Jason Baker won the marathon after crossing the finished line at the Esplanade in two hours 46 minutes and 31 seconds, he was closely followed by Christopher Mitchell of Trinidad & Tobago (the winner of Saturday’s 5K) placed second in two hours, 51 minutes, and 53 seconds; while third place went to Federick Ngeno who competed the 26.2-mile race in three hours, 13 minutes, and 22 seconds. 

Speaking to media after his victorious race and elated Baker said: “I have travelled a long way from the United Kingdom where I was born and live, but it’s an honour to represent Jamaica and carry the flag. It is a tough course. It was really hot, and the hills at the back are a bit nasty, but I am proud to win after a long week”.  

Colombian Palmenia Agudelo Berrio continued her winning streak on Sunday, adding the marathon title to her wins in the Fun Mile at the Garrison Savannah on Friday, and the 10K on Saturday. 

She was the third overall finisher in the marathon behind Baker and Mitchell, outclassing her female contenders in a time of two hours, 55 minutes and 17 seconds. Canadian Gina Tranquada was second woman to cross the line in a time of three hours, 13 minutes, and 54 seconds; and another Canadian Liliana Manosalva  came third after clocking three hours, 27 minutes and 0.2 seconds. 

Kenyan Alex Ekesa was on track to winning a fifth consecutive Run Barbados Marathon but was forced to abandon the race because on an injury.  Ekesa, the winner of the marathon in 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024, was leading the field at the half-way stage, but with about six miles to go, he suddenly stopped running. 

He later explained that his back was in pain, and the discomfort had caused him to lose his rhythm. Triathlon champion Oein Josiah was the first Barbadian to finished, the race, the 36 year-crossed the line in 3.23.02 seconds placing fifth among the men and seventh overall.  

Colombians Sergio Lopez and Oscar Acosta placed first and second respectively in the half-marathon, while Donell Francis of Trinidad & Tobago came third. In the women’s race  Egris Rodriguez of Venezuela won the race with a time of 1.26.0 seconds, and Aniqah Bailey of Trinidad came second in one hour and 33 minutes, Barbadian Carlie Robinson finished third in 1.33.27. 

 On Saturday, Nicholas Romany of Trinidad and Tobago competing in the 26 to 30 age group won the 10K race for the third successive year with a time of 31.20, he was followed closely by  Ekesa  the 40-year-oldrecorded the time of 31.22; and Colombian Sergio Lopez running in the 61-65 division placed third with the impressive time of 32.26. 

In the women’s division, Berrio dominated the race with a superb run that ended in a time of 37.02.0, while Panamanian Anais Alvarado Brassfield clocked 43.19.5, and Barbadian Katielyn Parker crossed the finish line in 43.19.5. Over 275 athletes took part in the race.