Marathon Bahamas awards top male and female resident marathon winners with a prize presentation from platinum sponsor, ALIV.  

The award-winning Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend celebrated its 10th anniversary running of the marathon, half marathon, relay and its ninth running and partnership with the Susan G. Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure® 5K.  

Yunelis Lightbourn, the overall female resident winner, said it was an amazing moment when she crossed the finish line and realized there was no other female from The Bahamas ahead of her.  

“I had a goal in mind when I started to run. Being in that moment in time with all those people, the route, and the cheering, it just kept me going. It was a very exciting experience. I wanted to beat my time and I did,” said Lightbourn.  

Lightbourn said this year was her first time qualifying for the Boston Marathon and she has already signed up for the 2020 Marathon Bahamas.  

“The minute they opened registration I signed up. I always run the half marathon and I decided it’s now time for the full. I love it, I enjoy it and I will do it again and again as long as I am able to do so,” said Lightbourn.  

Irene Buccheri, wife of Simone Bertoldo, the overall male resident winner, accepted the prize on his behalf.  

“He was happy when he won but he always says he can do more. He did well and I’m sure he will try to improve his time, every time,” said Buccheri.  

The top male and female student participants were also recognized for their top performances in the ALIV Orange Nation student run. ALIV Orange Nation Marathon Bahamas is a voluntary program which allows students to register for free.  

Uriah Ingraham, the top male student, is a 10th grade student of R.M. Bailey Senior High, a member of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rangers and a GGYA participant. Brynae Jamie, Bastian, the top female student, is a 15 year old R.M. Bailey Senior High student and a member of the Police Cadet Program.  

The program is designed so that the students train and complete 25 miles before the actual marathon. Then, on the day of the event, the students will run the final 1.2 miles on the course.

In addition to teaching students the importance of creating and fulfilling goals, this program seeks to promote and create awareness of healthy lifestyles, with a key focus on physical education.  

Jayme Pinder, Marketing Executive for Events and Sponsorships at ALIV, presented the winners with Samsung J6 phones. Pinder said every year the company looks forward to supporting the Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend.  

“We are more than just a telecommunications company and sponsoring these kinds of events is how we show our commitment to the community. We are extremely elated to be a part of something this major that’s impacting people all over the world and here at home,” said Pinder.  

Additional Platinum sponsors include Atlantis, FOCAL, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, and Bahamas Local.  

Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend is in its eleventh annual running of the marathon, half marathon, relay and its tenth running and partnership with Susan G. Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure® 5K, January 18-19, 2020.