The territory’s Andrew Hairston won the handcycling division of the Detroit Marathon on Sunday, finishing the course in 1 hour and 27 minutes. The 32-year-old athlete finished first out of 17 hand cyclists, claiming victory in what he describes as “arguably the best race for hand cyclists in the U.S.”
This was his fourth time racing in Detroit and his first victory after two previous third-place finishes.
The race began in challenging conditions, with windy and rainy weather greeting the early-morning starters. Hairston’s strategy shifted early on when his friend and racing partner, Dustin, with whom he planned to share the workload, suffered a mechanical issue.
“The toughest part was the 20 miles by yourself, trying to stay motivated and keep the power up so you can keep the gap open,” said Hairston. He credited his team of bike guides for ensuring his safety on the wet, technical course that crosses into Canada and back.
Hairston trains 15-20 hours per week, mixing long rides with high-intensity intervals. “Cycling is all a game of power to weight. The stronger you are the lighter you are, the faster you’ll go,” he said.
He was introduced to hand cycling through the Achilles Freedom Team while recovering at Walter Reed from a life-changing accident that left Hairston with a leg amputation. A free trip to New York, which he almost turned down, led to his first race, which was a four-mile race through Central Park that ended in Hairston taking third place.
Reflecting on the win, Hairston expressed gratitude for the support from the Virgin Islands community. “To have an entire community show love the way they do, makes all the hard work, tough days, and so much more, worth it,” says Hairston.
As a role model Hairston extends a simple message: ”Don’t give up, everybody is going through something. As long as you strive to do your best, you just can’t be upset with the outcome.”
True to that spirit, Hairston is already looking ahead. He will compete next in the Marine Corps Marathon before aiming for World Cup qualification in 2025, with a long-term goal of earning a wild card spot for the LA 2028 Paralympics.
