A contingent of 52 athletes from F45 Training Cayman travelled to Florida to compete in the 2026 Hyrox Miami event which took place from 3-5 April.
The Hyrox competition is a timed and standardised global fitness competition that combines a sequence of eight kilometers of running with eight functional workout stations, ultimately testing each participant’s endurance, strength and stamina.
This marks a major milestone for the local fitness community, with the group nearly doubling its presence from last year’s Miami event, which saw 27 athletes compete.
“Not only was Hyrox Miami our largest event, but the results were the best we’ve had as an F45 Cayman team,” said Stella Noyons, head Hyrox performance coach at F45 Training Cayman.
A highlight of the weekend was the performance of Gill Gordon and Toni Pinkerton, who secured a second-place podium finish in their 55-59 age group with a time of 1:33:07. This achievement was particularly significant as it was the first competitive race for both athletes.
Other standout times included the women’s doubles team of Stella Noyons and Natalia Murison, who finished in 1:13:26, while the men’s doubles pair of Ben Blair and Ian Smith crossed the line at 1:13:46.
The mixed doubles division saw Jayme Farrell and Phill Thompson record a time of 1:07:30 while the solo performances saw Cathal McGrath finish the open men’s solo in 1:13:18 and Vanessa Foster complete the open women’s solo in 1:15:50.
Continuous growth
The growth of the programme has been consistent since its inception in 2024, when a small team of only four athletes first represented the gym at a Hyrox event in New York.
Since that debut, the team has expanded its reach across North America, appearing in competitions in Chicago, Toronto and Dallas.
“Although our athletes can sign up for any event throughout the year – there are 14 major events across the USA alone – we like to target one to two major events as a team for the beginning and the end of the year,” stated Noyons.
“Targeting a single event allows us to really bring our community together. We not only train together for weeks leading up to the event, but we also show up for each other on race days and support our team members. Racing Hyrox is one thing but racing it with an entire F45 Cayman team backing you is quite another,” she added.
Training prior to the competition
As the F45 Cayman’s Hyrox programme has grown, two more Hyrox performance coaches have been added – Ian Smith, owner of F45 Cayman, and Natalia Murison.
Regarding the team’s preparation leading up to this year’s Miami trip, head coach Stella Noyons said, “From the very beginning, F45 Cayman’s Hyrox programming was led with intention and inclusivity. Its programming is also well-rounded, including aspects of nutrition, recovery, mobility and mental fitness training.”
“In the lead up to each big event, we hold a specific training block usually eight to 10 weeks long. Anyone can train in this block, regardless of whether they’ve signed up for a competition or not,” she added.
Training at the Strand-based studio included weekly Hyrox simulation sessions where participants cycled through eight specific workout stations, interspersed with outdoor running loops behind the building.
“Hyrox can be quite intimidating and … often, athletes will complete two to three of our training blocks before feeling confident enough to enter an actual competition,” Noyons said.
Beyond these Hyrox sessions, athletes are also encouraged to complete weekly runs with the F45 Run Club, partake in their regular strength training classes and utilise their mobility and recovery sessions at FS8 in Camana Bay.
Following the success in Miami, the federation is now preparing for upcoming Hyrox events in New York City, Toronto and Tampa.
Persons interested in joining the action are encouraged to email Stella Noyons at [email protected].
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