Reid Buchanan and Sophia King Win The 2025 OUC Orlando Half Marathon

December 8, 2025

Orlando’s oldest half marathon celebrates 49 years with 4,000 runners taking over the streets of downtown Orlando. Orlando’s own Michka-May Hyde took second place as an emerging runner on the national stage. Men’s Masters event record was broken by the alternate for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team.

ORLANDO, FL (December 8, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Today’s 2025 OUC Orlando Half Marathon saw Reid Buchanan of Kansas City, MO and Sophia King of Richmond, VA claim the top men’s and women’s fields. Produced by Track Shack Events, a specialty running and walking store in Orlando and producer of road race events, the 13.1-mile race welcomed approximately 4,000 runners and walkers to downtown Orlando for the 49^th event.

Buchanan, who won the race in 2023 and placed third during last year’s race, broke the tape in 1:04:14, while King emerged to victory in 1:17:37, leading deep fields that highlighted Orlando’s growing reputation as a destination for world-class distance running.

“There’s nothing better than breaking the tape and I was happy to do that,” said Buchanan. “The field was solid and we had a pack for half of the race. We all stayed together and hung on the best we could before the conditions took effect. But that adds to the element of racing. I’m grateful for the opportunity where competition gathers and we can better ourselves together.”

“It was snowing when I left Virginia, so it was a big shock coming here,” said King. “I knew I needed to go out conservative and decided to race according to the weather. I sat back with Michka-Mae before I increased my pace. This was a fun race to win. My mom told me yesterday that she was 100 percent confident that I would win. Moms are always right.”

King continued: “The fans…they were my heart. At every turn, every crevasse of the race you saw the spectators cheering you on. I fed off their energy. The course was also gorgeous, so it took my mind off things.”

In addition to the overall victories, Florida athletes took over the remaining top 5 spots in the women’s field. An emerging runner from Orlando, Michka-Maye Hyde, kept pace with King for most of the race and placed second. The Jamaican-born runner was going for the Jamaican National Record for the women’s half marathon distance today, a record set by Tamica Thomas (1:28:20) in 2006.

The men’s masters event record was also broken today by 42-year-old Elkanah Kibet of Colorado Springs, who placed second in today’s race, in 1:06:53 (former record was set in 2017 by William Vanos of Orlando in 1:11:10). Kibet also placed fourth in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, which also took place in Orlando.

RACE RESULTS

Men’s – Top 5

1. Reid Buchanan, Kansas City, MO – 1:05:14
2. Elkanah Kibet, Colorado Springs, CO – 1:06:53
3. Jack Aho, Charlotte, NC – 1:07:51
4. Garret Drogosch, Atlanta, GA – 1:08:28
5. Brett Brady, Pensacola, FL – 1:09:20

Women’s – Top 5

1. Sophia King, Richmond, VA – 1:17:37
2. Michka-Mae Hyde, Orlando, FL – 1:19:22
3. Peyton Capes-Davis, Gainesville, FL – 1:19:58
4. Erica Weitz, Orlando, FL – 1:21:02
5. Sinkenesh Parker, Winter Springs, FL – 1:24:47

(Note: Overall winners and prize money are determined by gun time.)

WHEELCHAIR DIVISION RESULTS

Overall Wheelchair Champion: Kendall Waltz, Winter Garden, FL – 1:33:18

FEATURED ADAPTIVE ATHLETES: CHRIS NIKIC & CALEB PREWITT

Central Florida’s own Chris Nikic, known globally for his barrier-breaking accomplishments as the first person with Down syndrome to complete an IRONMAN, finished the 49th OUC Orlando Half Marathon in 2:49:56.

Jacksonville native, Caleb Prewitt, who received the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest person with Down syndrome to have completed a half marathon, delivered an inspiring performance with a finishing time of 3:24:58. Next, he’ll be running tomorrow’s Track Shack Lake Eola 5K to complete the DTO Challenge presented by Orangetheory Fitness, which is the half marathon and 5K combined.

Together, Nikic and Prewitt’s finishes underscored the event’s commitment to inclusive racing, providing a platform where athletes of all abilities can celebrate the joy and challenge of distance running.

Alicia Albert, Senior Event Director, Track Shack Events

“Today was a celebration of 49 years of running in downtown Orlando. From our elite and wheelchair fields to adaptive athletes and thousands of other runners, this event truly reflects the heart of our community.”

THE RACE DAY & EVENT EXPERIENCE

The OUC Orlando Half Marathon started at 7:15 a.m. from Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando, sending athletes on a 13.1-mile tour of city landmarks, lakes, and scenic neighborhoods before returning to the park for a festival-style finish.

New for 2025, runners could take on the Downtown Orlando (DTO) Challenge presented by Orangetheory Fitness, completing both the half marathon and Sunday’s Track Shack Lake Eola 5K benefiting WESH 2 Share Your Christmas for a total of 16.2 miles.

The event continues its legacy as Florida’s first Council for Responsible Sport-certified running event, building on its Gold Certification in 2024 for environmental and social sustainability. Eleven local run clubs, including Monday RunDay Run Club, DT Sanford Run Club, GRIT Running Orlando, Ivanhoe Park Brewing Run Club, luluemon, Orlando Runners Club, O-Town Blazers Milk District Run Club, and Universal Run Club, staffed water stops and cheer zones to motivate athletes from start to finish.

ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM & PRIZE PURSE

The event’s Athlete Development Program builds on momentum from the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, held in Orlando, supporting and inspiring American distance runners on the road to LA 2028.

The 2025 prize purse of $23,000 was awarded to the top five overall male and female finishers and top male and female Masters, top male and female Floridians.

BENEFICIARIES & COMMUNITY IMPACT

Proceeds from the OUC Orlando Half Marathon Weekend benefit:

• Track Shack Youth Foundation – funding health and fitness programs for local youth.
• Florida Citrus Sports Foundation – supporting youth and community development.
• Orlando-Urayasu Sister City Program – fostering global connection and cultural exchange since

1989.

• WESH 2’s Share Your Christmas Food & Fund Drive – supporting Second Harvest Food Bank of

Central Florida

For more information about the OUC Orlando Half Marathon, visit www.OrlandoHalfMarathon.com or follow on social media @OrlandoHalfMarathon.

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About the OUC Orlando Half Marathon

Forty-eight years running, the OUC Orlando Half Marathon has been one of the top half marathons in the southeast. The OUC Orlando Half Marathon has received Silver and Gold certifications by the Council for Responsible Sport.  It is the first event in Florida to earn any level certification by the Council, the world’s leading sustainability certification program dedicated to supporting, certifying, and celebrating responsible sports events and organizations. OrlandoHalfMarathon.com 

About OUC—The Reliable One

For more than 100 years, OUC—The Reliable One has provided exceptional value to its customers and community through the delivery of sustainable and reliable services and solutions. The utility provides electric, water, chilled water, lighting and solar services to more than 400,000 accounts in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties. As OUC prepares for the next century, it remains committed to its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 while supporting its community with conservation, sustainability and energy efficiency resources. Visit www.ouc.com to learn more.

About the Track Shack Family of Companies

Track Shack of Orlando opened for business in 1977 as a small retail operation focused on selling running shoes and apparel. Owners Jon and Betsy Hughes were awarded Florida’s Retailer of the Year 2015 by the Florida Retail Federation. Jon and Betsy also own Track Shack Events, a sports marketing company that specializes in marketing, management, and production of active lifestyle events. The award-winning professional staff has earned Track Shack Events a reputation as one of America’s top sports marketing companies. Track Shack Events co-produced the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon in Orlando. The mission of Track Shack Events is that each event produced will benefit the entire community – runners and walkers, sponsors, and charities. Run to TrackShack.com.

Contact:

Natalie Casey
Vice President, Communications
Track Shack Events
natalie@trackshack.com
407-761-1023