Guyana’s Hicks Mittelholzer shines in Barbados Marathon debut

Young Guyanese runner Hicks Mittelholzer has announced his arrival on the regional long-distance scene with an exceptional performance at the Run Barbados Marathon & Wellness Weekend, securing top honours in his age group across two major events.

Mittelholzer, competing in the highly competitive M21–25 category, showcased both speed and endurance, proudly serving as the first Guyanese athlete to cross the finish line in both the 5K race and the full marathon.

The athlete started the weekend with conviction in the 5K event, where he not only placed 1st in his age category but also secured a notable 12th position overall in the international field.

His momentum carried through to the marquee event. In his debut marathon—the gruelling 26.2-mile course—Mittelholzer displayed incredible discipline, crossing the line in a superb time of 3 hours, 24 minutes, and 19 seconds.

His final rankings underscore the achievement: Overall Finish: 8th out of 79 participants; Men’s Finish: 6th among all male runners and Age Category (M21–25): 1st place.

Mittelholzer’s success is particularly inspiring given his independent training regimen. Driven by sheer commitment and passion, his results highlight the immense, often untapped, athletic potential within Guyana.

The performance, coming shortly after he graduated from the University of Guyana with an Associate of Science in Computer Science, raises a clear question for national sporting bodies: following such an outstanding international debut, is there an opportunity to formally recognise and support this emerging talent?