Reid Buchanan and Sophia King Win the 2025 OUC Orlando Half Marathon
Orlando’s oldest half marathon celebrates 49 years with 4,000 runners taking over the streets of downtown Orlando.
Orlando’s own Michka-Mae 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.
The streets of downtown Orlando came alive on Saturday, December 6 as 4,000 runners and walkers took on the 49th OUC Orlando Half Marathon, produced by Track Shack Events. In a competitive and energetic race, Reid Buchanan of Kansas City, MO, and Sophia King of Richmond, VA, raced their way to the top of the men’s and women’s fields.
Buchanan, who won the race in 2023 and placed third at last year’s race, broke the tape in 1:04:14, while King raced 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 spectators cheering you on. I fed off their energy. The course was gorgeous, so it took my mind off things.”
Hometown Talent & Record-Breaking Performances
In addition to the overall victories, Florida athletes took over the top remaining five spots in the women’s field. An emerging runner from Orlando, Michka-Mae Hyde, kept pace with King for most of the race and placed second. The Jamaican-born runner was chasing the Jamaican National Record for the women’s half marathon distance, a record set by Tamica Thomas (1:28:20) in 2006.
The men’s masters event record was broken by 42-year-old Elkanah Kibet of Colorado Springs, who placed second, in 1:06:53 (former record was set in 2017 by William Vanos of Orlando in 1:11:10). Kibet placed fourth in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, which also took place in Orlando.
Top Five Results
Men
- Reid Buchanan, Kansas City, MO – 1:05:14
- Elkanah Kibet, Colorado Springs, CO – 1:06:53
- Jack Aho, Charlotte, NC – 1:07:51
- Garret Drogosch, Atlanta, GA – 1:08:28
- Brett Brady, Pensacola, FL – 1:09:20
- Sophia King, Richmond, VA – 1:17:37
- Michka-Mae Hyde, Orlando, FL – 1:19:22
- Peyton Capes-Davis, Gainesville, FL – 1:19:58
- Erica Weitz, Orlando, FL – 1:21:02
- Sinkenesh Parker, Winter Springs, FL – 1:24:47
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 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. On Sunday, Caleb ran the 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.”
Race Weekend & 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. The event was broadcast locally and live streamed by WESH 2 the Official Broadcast Partner.
New for 2025, 400 runners took on the Downtown Orlando (DTO) Challenge presented by Orangetheory Fitness, completing the half marathon on Saturday then the Track Shack Lake Eola 5K benefiting WESH 2 Share Your Christmas on Sunday, totaling 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 & Prize Purse
The 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.
Community Impact
Proceeds from the OUC Orlando Half Marathon Weekend benefit:
- Track Shack Youth Foundation – funding youth health and fitness programs.
- 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 or to view the results, visit www.OrlandoHalfMarathon.com or follow on social media @OrlandoHalfMarathon.
