Kenya’s Victor Kagika of Kingston College won the 2025 Sagicor Sigma 5K Run/Walk as the event surpassed the projected target of $115m, raising a whopping $128m it was announced after the event on Sunday, February 16, 2025.

Approximately 30,477 persons participated in the 27th staging in what is the biggest of its kind in the region, having started in 1999. The 2025 run raised a record-breaking $128 million.

The Sigma Run has raised over $750 million for close to 30 charities over the years and this year’s beneficiaries are the Kingston Public Hospital, Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre Father Ho Lung and Friends Foundation’s Bethlehem Home. 

Christopher Zacca, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Group Jamaica, was on hand to participate and he was more than pleased.

“This year’s Sigma Run has been nothing short of extraordinary. To exceed our target by such a significant margin while also welcoming a record number of registrations is a true testament to the generosity and compassion of the Jamaican people,” said Zacca.

He continued: “Every dollar raised will go directly towards improving lives, and we are incredibly thankful to everyone who made this possible.”

Thousands turned up before daylight in New Kingston in support of a worthy cause including Prime Minister Andrew Holness who clocked in at 38:03 minutes which placed him 2,943.

Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding was also present, but his digital bib of 31,993 showed no time, which suggests he didn’t finish.

One of the patrons of the event, Cedella Marley, finished in 1:12.07 minutes and placed 6,380 out of 7,665 women while Dana Morris Dixon, minister of education, youth and information was 1,358th woman after stopping the clock at 49:23 minutes.

Eighty-five-year-old veteran Gerline Nelson clocked 45:53 minutes and was the 868th woman to cross the line.

Sigma Run has become much more than racing to win for a charity. It’s a social event not to be missed.

The phones were out as participants snapped and streamed away throughout the event, especially when they reached the finish line.

From as old as 85 years old to children, including the wheelchair-bound and the physically impaired, all participated in the 5.5 kilometre Run/Walk/Wheelchair race.

Among the runners, the first to the line was Kingston College’s Kenyan student Victor Kagika, who won easily in 17:31 ahead of his schoolmate Peter Njugana, also of Kenya, in 17:47. Both men won’t be able to compete at this year’s Inter-Secondary Schools Association Boys and Girls Championship based on the eligibility rule of having to sit out this year.

The best-placed Jamaican was Terrence Williams, who finished third in 17:47, while Kemeila Myers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) was the top female. The JCF won both male and female team events.

The show didn’t stop there as the entertainment continued at Emancipation Park with fun and games as participants cooled down and relaxed.