Trinidad and Tobago’s long-distance standout Nicholas Romany opened the 2025 Run Barbados Marathon and Wellness Weekend in dominant fashion, capturing gold in the Fun Mile on Friday night to defend his title for a third consecutive year.
Romany powered across the line in a blistering 4:20, improving on last year’s winning time of 4:29 and edging out fellow Trinidadian competitors who claimed second and third.
“This is my third time winning the one mile in a row. I’m very happy. I’m very excited to be here again at Run Barbados. The competition this year’s a lot tougher, so I had to push the race a bit harder,” Romany said. “My goal is to try to podium each event. If I can defend my title, I would love to do that.”
The elite runner revealed that his preparation included intense threshold training, tempo runs, and race sharpening, highlighted by a recent personal best of 30 minutes and 28 seconds at the Shine 10K in Trinidad. “That was a confidence booster. Very excited,” he added.
Romany is set to contest the 10K on Saturday and the Half Marathon on Sunday, aiming to podium in all three events before returning to Trinidad to continue preparations for the Commonwealth and CAC Games, where he targets qualification in the 1500 meters.
“My goal for next year is to make the teams… that’s my focus,” he said.
While Romany led the elite charge, the Fun Mile remained true to its reputation as the most festive event of the weekend. The historic Garrison Savannah came alive with families, children, seasoned runners, and first-timers, as participants took to the course in colorful costumes, many sporting glow-in-the-dark accessories, LED headbands, and face paint, transforming the race into a moving carnival of lights and laughter.
From young children sprinting alongside parents to costumed groups dancing between strides, the Fun Mile celebrated sport, community, and fun in equal measure.
Director of Caribbean and Latin America at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Corey Garrett, commended the event’s execution and atmosphere. “We had over 1,500 participants… there was quite a bit of excitement at the starting line. From young kids to older adults in costumes, everyone was out,” Garrett said. “On behalf of BTMI, kudos to the team. It was a very well-executed event.”
Garrett emphasized the positive fusion of sport with Barbadian culture and heritage. “We’re merging our natural heritage and culture with the sporting element. Tonight was really about coming out, having fun, finding your costumes, and doing the mile as fast as you could.”
Competition continues on December 6, with the 10K, one of the Caribbean’s oldest races established in 1983 alongside the extremely popular 5K race and the 5K walk, open to walkers of all ages.
The action concludes on December 7 with the marquee events, the Half Marathon and full Marathon, as athletes from across the region and beyond chase podium finishes and personal bests.
With elite performances, mass participation, and carnival-style celebration, the 2025 Run Barbados weekend is once again showcasing the island as a powerhouse for both sporting excellence and community-driven fun.
