Woollins & Coetzee lead the way at Butterfield & Vallis 5K
IslandStats.com
Philip Woollins and Estienne Coetzee added more silverware to their collections this morning as they were crowned the overall male and female champions at the 2026 Butterfield & Vallis 5K.
In a race that has become a staple of the January road running calendar, Woollins demonstrated his current fine form by breaking away from the field to claim victory in 17:47. The result marks another successful outing for Woollins, who has established himself as one of the island's most consistent distance performers this season. Christopher Harris followed in second place, while Corey Brunton rounded out the men's podium by crossing the line in 18:29.
The women’s race was dominated by Estienne Coetzee, who produced a powerful performance to finish seventh overall. Coetzee was clocked at 19:03, comfortably securing the female title ahead of a competitive field. Colette Durkin was the next female finisher to cross the line, taking second place in 19:26, while Stepanka Sprincova completed the podium after finishing tenth overall in a time of 19:34.
The event also showcased the depth of junior talent across the school divisions. In the Middle School bracket, Lucas Ferreira claimed a decisive win with a time of 10:07. He was followed by Madeleine Friend, who not only finished second in the division but also secured the female Middle School crown with an impressive time of 10:58.
The Upper Primary School titles provided some of the most exciting finishes of the day. Nolan Horrobin continued his winning ways by clocking 9:58 to take the boys' title, while Freya Dunkle underlined her potential by finishing sixth overall in the junior field to claim the girls' crown in 11:00.
Butterfield & Vallis 5K set to support Dementia Bermuda
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The roads of Devonshire are set to be flooded with runners and walkers this Sunday, January 25th, as the annual Butterfield & Vallis 5K returns to its traditional Woodlands Road location.
This year’s event will benefit Dementia Bermuda, formerly known as Action on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, with all race proceeds dedicated to the charity's vital support work within the local community. The 2026 edition continues a long-standing tradition of community-focused racing, following a successful 2025 event that saw hundreds of participants take to the streets.
The action kicks off early at 8:00 am with a 1K race for Lower Primary students, followed by a 2.7K route for Upper Primary and Middle School runners at 8:30 am. The main event, the 5K run and walk for Senior School students and adults, is scheduled for a 9:30 am start.
To foster school spirit, a $500 prize will be awarded to the primary, middle, and secondary schools that boast the highest total number of entries in their respective categories. Individual excellence will also be recognized, with awards for the top three finishers in all age divisions, alongside a variety of draw prizes.
Race directors Shunae Henry and Sharon Craig have confirmed that number pick-up will take place on Saturday, January 24, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. In a change from previous years, participants must collect their packets at Butterfield & Vallis Orange Valley in Devonshire.
Giveaways: The first 900 participants to arrive for number pick-up will receive an official B&V 5K shirt and a goodie bag. Safety: Volunteers from Dementia Bermuda will marshal the course, while St. John Ambulance will be on-site to provide medical support. Refreshments: Post-race refreshments will be available, supported by major sponsors including Coca-Cola, Powerade, and Dasani.
Registration remains open until 11:59 pm on Saturday, January 24th, via RaceDayWorld.
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Mbelenzi & Harvey Reign Supreme at PwC Bermuda Marathon
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Dennis Mbelenzi and Natasha Harvey have been crowned the elite champions of the 2026 PwC Bermuda Marathon after a grueling morning of distance running across the island’s scenic but challenging terrain.
The victory marks a triumphant return to form for Mbelenzi, who dominated the men’s field from the outset. He crossed the finish line in a commanding time of 2:29:07, finishing more than three minutes clear of his nearest rival. Ian Tibbals secured a respectable second-place finish with a time of 2:32:29, while Ciaran McGonagle rounded out the podium spots by taking third in 2:52:52.
In the Women’s marathon, Natasha Harvey produced a stellar performance to claim the title. Finishing 13th overall among the entire field, Harvey clocked a winning time of 3:26:32. She was followed by Annie Ford, who secured the second female spot and 18th overall in 3:29:50. The third female finisher was Xuanhuong Tonnu, who crossed the line 21st overall in 3:31:42.
While the marathoners tackled the full 26.2-mile course, the PwC Bermuda Half Marathon provided its own share of high-speed drama and elite international competition.
American standout Andrew Wacker added another title to his decorated weekend, claiming the men's half marathon crown in 1:07:45. Wacker was pushed throughout the early stages by Aaron Willingham, who eventually took second place in 1:08:06. JP Flavin, a consistent performer on the Bermuda circuit, finished in third place with a time of 1:09:16.
The women’s half marathon saw Ellie Stevens continue her dominant streak in the Atlantic. Stevens finished as the 10th runner overall, stopping the clock at 1:20:31 to secure the top spot on the podium. She was followed closely by Anna Vess, who crossed the line next in 1:21:41. Natalie Whitty completed the top three for the women, finishing 12th overall in a time of 1:22:40.
The results cap off a sensational weekend of racing for the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge, which saw hundreds of local and international athletes descend on the island for three days of competitive running.
Andrew Wacker produced a commanding performance to claim victory in the Allshores 10k, as the Chubb Bermuda Triangle Challenge weekend got into full swing.
Wacker crossed the line in a blistering 30:10.41, fending off a spirited challenge from JP Flavin (30:46.59) to take the top spot on the podium.
There was plenty for the local crowds to cheer about as Ryan Outerbridge secured a superb third-place finish. Outerbridge clocked 31:51.54 to round out the top three males, cementing his reputation as one of the region's rising distance talents.
In the women's elite division, Ellie Stevens showed her class with a dominant display. Stevens finished 11th overall in a time of 35:17.48 to take the title of First Female.
She was followed by Anna Vess, who claimed the second female spot in 35:51.28, while Natalie Whitty completed the podium with a strong 36:59.80 for third.
The Allshores 5k provided the closest finish of the day, with Ben Claridge and Marcel Aubry involved in a literal dead heat for the top spot.
Both athletes were recorded at an identical 15:32.38 in a lung-busting dash to the tape. Claridge was ultimately awarded the victory in a race that saw Sam Knee-Robinson take a respectable third place in 16:06.75.
Record-Breaking Night as McNamara & Ernst claim Honors
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Under the bright lights of a humid Bermuda evening, the Front Street Mile lived up to its reputation for high drama as two long-standing age-group records fell on the streets of Hamilton.
The crowds lining the harbor front were treated to a masterclass in middle-distance running, with the elite fields providing a fitting finale to a night that began with historic performances from the island's rising stars.
The highlight of the junior races came in the 11 to 13 category, where both the girls' and boys' records were shattered in emphatic fashion. Naomi Macguinness delivered a standout performance in the girls' race, crossing the line in 5:15.97 to etch her name into the event's history. She was followed by Colette Durkin, who took second in 5:24.46, and Evelyn Fahy in third with 5:25.35.
Not to be outdone, Spencer Haldeman produced a blistering display in the boys' 11 to 13 division. Haldeman clocked a record-breaking 5:01.28, finishing nearly 10 seconds clear of his nearest rival, Nicolas Gomez Caines, who secured second in 5:11.19. Dage Butterfield rounded out the podium in 5:19.76.
In the headline Elite Women’s race, Gina McNamara showed her class with a measured tactical performance. McNamara pulled away from the field to claim victory in 4:50.60. Anna Vess secured the runner-up spot in 4:54.47, while Ellie Stevens took the final podium place in 4:57.61.
The Elite Men’s race saw Andrew Ernst dictate the pace from the front. Ernst crossed the finish line in 4:05.26 to take a comfortable victory over Ben Claridge, who finished in 4:09.28. Aaron Willingham fought hard to claim third place in 4:10.36.
The evening began with the youngest competitors setting a high bar for the night. In the Girls 10 and Under category, Freya Dunkle proved too strong for the opposition, winning in 6:11.67. Kamari Brooks-Gibbons followed in 6:18.66, with Hazel Richards finishing third in 6:20.22.
The Boys 10 and Under race saw Nolan Horrobin take the title in 5:36.32, comfortably ahead of Heath Kemp in 5:42.82 and Jacob Butterfield in 5:50.47.
In the 14 to 17 category, Riana Robinson claimed the girls' title in 5:26.52, holding off a spirited challenge from Ziza Russell, who finished in 5:29.65. Brooklyn Myers took third in 5:36.14. The boys' equivalent was won by Gianluca Bortoli in a swift 4:32.96, with Jackson Langley taking second in 4:42.46 and Sanchez Smith finishing third in 4:46.40.
