ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA – October 17, 2026 – The soft sand of Jolly Beach’s Mangroves Beach Bar played host to a thrilling evening of running Saturday, when the BAFA Foundation staged its annual Beach Mile, bringing together competitive athletes and casual participants of all ages to support youth athletics development across the Caribbean.
In a stunning upset that highlighted the depth of emerging young talent in the region, 12-year-old Kaden Henry of the Super Nova athletics club outpaced all competitors to take the overall men’s title. Henry crossed the finish line after one mile of challenging soft-sand running in a time of 6 minutes 42.8 seconds, beating out second-place finisher Javier Spencer of the UWI Track Club, who stopped the clock at 6:48.4. Brycen Bellamy of the PPF club rounded out the men’s podium in third with a time of 6:50.3.
The women’s division delivered its own standout performance, with Tiffany Gordon of PPF securing the top spot with a finishing time of 8:18.8. Gordon held off a challenge from fellow PPF athlete Bridgette Bellamy, who finished 45 seconds behind to take second place in 9:03.1, while Rian Marie Bellamy, also of PPF, completed the podium in third with a time of 10:16.3.
Event organizers split the field into two participation waves to accommodate all skill levels. Competitive runners took to the course first at 5:15 p.m., followed by a slower, non-competitive wave for recreational runners and walkers at 5:45 p.m. In recognition of every participant’s effort, every athlete who crossed the finish line received a custom limited-edition Starfish medal to commemorate their achievement.
Nigel Bellamy, Director of the BAFA Foundation, called the 2026 event a resounding success, noting that the event’s core mission of bringing together people of all ages and abilities was fully realized. “It was encouraging to see runners of all ages take on the mile on Saturday evening. Twelve-year-old Kaden Henry was outstanding in winning the men’s overall title. Tiffany Gordon put in an incredible performance to take the women’s title, and all her training showed,” Bellamy said. The event held an extra personal meaning for Bellamy, who shared that “as a father, I couldn’t be prouder to see members of my own family on the podium too. That’s what this foundation is about: getting people of every age and ability moving together.”
All proceeds from participant entry fees go directly to the BAFA Foundation’s work expanding youth athletics opportunities across the Caribbean. The 2026 race was hosted at the Jolly Beach Resort, with corporate support from sponsors Dasani, Powerade and Subway, including complimentary Dasani water provided to all finishers at the end of the course.
As a non-profit organization, the BAFA Foundation centers its work on using running and walking events to advance public health, wellness and community connection across the Caribbean, aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 focused on universal Good Health and Well-Being. The foundation’s flagship initiative, the Caribbean Million Mile Challenge, unites communities across the region to log a collective one million miles of physical activity, encouraging people to meet World Health Organization (WHO) activity guidelines and reduce risk of widespread noncommunicable diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. More information about the foundation’s programs can be found at bafasports.org.