Antigua and Barbuda’s leading distance-running organization, Hurricane Power Athletics Club, is preparing to launch a landmark new race on Sunday, 8 November 2026: the first ever IC Popoy Half Marathon. The 21.1-kilometer course will kick off at 6:00 a.m. from the Old Road Post Office, with runners traversing the island before crossing the finish line at the YASCO Sports Complex located on Old Parham Road.
The event carries deep personal and community meaning, as it was named to honor Ian “Popoy” Codova Simon, the founding father of Hurricane Power Athletics Club and a celebrated champion distance runner in Antigua and Barbuda’s sporting history. Organizers have set ambitious goals for the annual race, hoping it will grow into the country’s premier professional distance running event that attracts top competitive runners from across the Caribbean region. Beyond competitive sport, the half marathon is designed to align with the island’s annual Independence celebrations, advancing three key priorities: boosting public health and fitness, expanding access to recreational sport, and growing Antigua and Barbuda’s fast-growing sports tourism sector.
Registration for the 2026 inaugural race is now open, with multiple divisions available to accommodate runners of all age groups and skill levels, from recreational first-timers to elite professional competitors. Every runner who completes the full 21.1-kilometer course will take home a custom participation medal to commemorate their achievement, while the top performers in each division will earn additional honors including custom trophies and cash prizes. The overall first-place finisher across all divisions will claim the formal title of Antigua and Barbuda’s fastest half-marathon runner.
In a special tribute to the race’s namesake, event organizers have added a unique incentive: any athlete who beats Simon’s decades-old standing half-marathon record of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 21 seconds, set back in 1990, will receive an extra $500 cash bonus on top of any other prize money they earn. Community members and visitors are invited to support the competitors, with organizers encouraging spectators to line the race route and gather at the YASCO Sports Complex to cheer runners across the finish line.