Kenyan Leads Record-Breaking Night at Midnight MarathonÂ
A lung-bursting run from Kenyan Alex Ekesa produced another course record for the our Midnight Marathon on Sunday morning, as the flagship event ran off at last at the NCC Foyer at the Queen’s Park Savannah.
The Kenyan long-distance runner has made a name for himself in the local running scene, and coming into this race his resume was legitimately stacked from his efforts on the road.
During the wee hours of Mother’s Day, he set an early tempo leading the pack by the time he finished his savannah lap and stuck to his plan throughout the course to win with more than half an hour to spare to not only seal his second-consecutive Midnight Marathon title, but also setting the course record in both.
Record-setting run
After two hours, 28 minutes, 45.2 seconds Ekesa didn’t only win by quite the distance, but lowered the record he set last year by just a hair – last year’s effort registered 2:28.46.
This was the ideal follow-up from his run at the Midnight Half Marathon in Chaguaramas a month ago, where he finished in second just 14.8 seconds behind Tafari Waldron.
“I’m just grateful to have come here today. Regardless of all the challenges that I’ve been facing,” he explained after the race. “Being here today in this race is another opportunity for me to just showcase what I’m capable of doing and what I really love doing. So, it’s really a privilege for me and I’m very grateful that I came here today.”
Ekesa is a familiar face among the local distance running fanbase. Coming into our 2026 Midnight Runner Series, he helped himself to the 19th UWI SPEC Half Marathon in October – also in record-breaking fashion – and he was the winner of the Trinidad and Tobago International Marathon in 2024 to add to his Midnight Marathon double act.
“Trinidad to me has become like home. Because all this time I’ve been coming here and the community, running community, the family become part of me and I become part of them. So, it’s a privilege for me and I’m very grateful for all the love, all the support that I’ve been given here in Trinidad,” he said.
“All that training, all those weeks, months, hours. To just come and win this marathon, to me, is something that I’m very grateful for. I’m very happy.”
And now to the rest of the field
Coming up in second was Colin Pereira, who clocked 3:13:3.2 as he ran past the gantry, while Keron Ragbirsingh finished in third with 3:13:14.7.
Over in the women’s, Palmenia Agudelo topped the field for the second year in a row, with a time that saw her finish second overall in the race which was a real sensation at the finish.
She didn’t quite match Ekesa with the title and record double, as she crossed the line in 3:01:22.4, which was roughly six minutes off her 2:55:47 mark from last year, but finishing at the top of the podium, and second overall was quite the achievement.
“I feel good. It’s my fifth edition and in first place as well, and truly I liked (the race) and thanks to the organisers,” she explained in the post-race interview. “I liked my experience in Trinidad a lot. It’s the fifth time I’ve been here, with two editions (of the Midnight Marathon) that I finished as the winner, and running the race at midnight was something I liked a lot!”
Christina Laurent finished second some 12 minutes later, clocking 3:13:23.7, while Maria Barrera rounded up the ladies’ podium in third with 3:37:54.6.
A course for the ages
As the longest race in the series, the course was a manifestation of the discipline and grit needed to complete it, let alone win it.
Starting from the NCC Foyer, runners took a merry cruise around the QPS before streaking down Dundonald Street where the race really started in earnest.
After leaving the capital, runners made a steady stream east down the Priority Bus Route before swinging around at Dinsley, and then making their way back at around 1.30am, before finishing right back at the start.
This was the same course for the Ekiden relay, which ran concurrently with the Midnight Marathon.
The usual atmosphere
The buzz on social media, as well as word on the street indicates that Bafasports races are quickly becoming a part of the local zeitgeist, and the atmosphere at the athletes’ village plays a significant part in the culture.
Sunday morning was more of the same with the pre-race aerobathon-style work out, as well as hydration stations set up by Dasani and Powerade, doubles from about 3am, Starbucks coffee and lemonade, cucumber slices courtesy of Subway, a live pan side, and lots more.
During the two-and-a-half-hour wait for runners to file in to the finish gantry, there was a gradual build-up to the energy as Ekiden relay team members made their way from their respective legs.
Teamwork to make the dream work
Our flagship event most definitely had a collaborative effort for the ages to make happen.
From the tireless work from the admins here at Bafasports, to the efforts of the TTPS as well as the army and coast guard units that were on site to make sure that everything was well secured.
And of course, the corporate sponsors played their part in making the event a resounding success.
Subway, Fit Addicts Movement, Tribe, the NCC, the MSYA, Powerade, Dasani, Good N’ Natural, Eve, Sports and Games, Optometrists Today, Hilton, Starbucks, E Health, and Trinebox all came in clutch for this year’s Midnight Marathon.
There’s still more
Don’t forget that this isn’t the end of the Midnight Runner Series, as the Magdalena Grand Midnight 10K will hit the Sister Isle again later this year. Keep a keen eye to this space, as our other media channels, including Instagram, Facebook, and our Whatsapp Channel.
But before that the next event on the cards that will push the boundaries of what could be done on the racing circuit will be the Mayaro Coconut Beach Run 1K and 5K on August 15, while a day later the 10K edition will run off.
Keep you kicks laced up, because we’re making running fun again one stride at a time.
Results
Men
- Alex Ekesa – 2:28:45.2Â
- Colin Pereira – 3:13:3.2
- Keron Ragbirsingh – 3:13:14.7
Women
- Palmenia Agudelo – 3:01:22.4
- Christina Laurent – 3:13:23.7
- Maria Eugenia Barrera – 3:37:54.6
*Check our results page for more details!