Familiar face wins Tropical 5K for fifth year in a row
Just like many of the 3,300 runners who participated in Saturday morning’s Tropical 5K warm-up event for today’s Life Time Miami Marathon And Half-Marathon, Miami Beach fire canine Deco was a bit tired after completing the 3.1 miles. So he sprawled out, a finisher medal around his neck, and took a rest right there on the street across from Joe’s Stone Crab on the southern tip of Miami Beach. Then he enjoyed some water.
Deco and fellow Miami Beach Fire Department search and rescue and emotional support K-9 Salsa participated in the 5K along with their firefighter handlers Stephany Marcos and captain Sergio Martinez to call attention to mental health issues within the fire service.
They didn’t even try to keep up with former Venezuelan Olympian Luis Orta as he made it five in a row at the Life Time Tropical 5K by cruising to an easy win in 15:12, which was 44 seconds faster than Tom Black of New York. Orta is also entered in Sunday’s Half-Marathon race. Denmark native and former FIU runner Emily Christiansen (18:27) won the women’s race. Amaly Williams Pinero Rojas of Panama (18:40) was second.
“It felt good. I felt strong. Being able to win comfortably,” Orta said. “It was a solo effort today. Five years of being healthy. I’ll take it.”
While the firefighters and their K-9s weren’t competing with anybody on Saturday, the furry team was running the 5K to call attention to mental health issues within the fire service and to honor the life and legacy of first responders such as Daniel Fiorito, a Miami Beach firefighter who tragically lost his life to suicide in November 2024.
Their participation confirmed the Miami Beach fire department’s commitment to creating an environment where firefighters, who often work in difficult situations during the course of their duty, are encouraged to seek help and support resources.
“Firefighting is a profession built on teamwork and resilience, but it also requires us to take care of one another outside of the job,” said Miami Beach Fire Chief Digna Abello. “By participating in events like these, we honor the memory of those we’ve lost while continuing important conversations about mental health and reminding our firefighters that they are never alone.”
The dogs understandably drew a lot of attention at the start line of the early-morning point-to-point race that has long served as a warmup for Sunday’s main event. While most of the country was experiencing heavy ice and snow, the temperature on Miami Beach had already pushed to 72 degrees as runners took off from Watson Island and ran down the McArthur Causeway to South Beach. They passed the cruise ships docked at the Port of Miami en route to the Southern tip of Miami Beach.
Orta looks for his 5K success to translate to the longer Half-Marathon (13.1 miles) Sunday as he tackles the race for the first time.
“I’ve never done the race as an elite here,” Orta said. “Let’s see if I can get two wins this weekend. I don’t see why not. Let’s have fun with it.”
Orta, also a former University of Kentucky runner, relocated his “My Olympic Coach” company, which provides personalized training and camps for runners, from Boulder, Colorado, to Miami more than a year ago. Business has taken off. Orta has 180 athletes entered in Sunday’s races.
“It is growing, going beautifully,” he said. “I’m always open to working with anyone.”
Christiansen was making her Tropical 5K debut Saturday. She is also part of Orta’s “My Olympic Coach” bunch and will be on the sidelines cheering for her friends in the racing community at Sunday’s Marathon.
“It was great,” said Christiansen, 28, an FIU Ph.D. candidate in international crime and justice who was celebrating her first published paper. “I was running with two other women until the 2.2-mile mark and on the downhill I started pushing.
“The atmosphere of these races is amazing and so cool.”
Men’s results: 1. Luis Orta, Miami, 15:12; 2. Tom Black, New York, 15:56; 3. Stefan Lungescu, Fort Lauderdale, 16:09; 4. Luis Kock, Oranjestad, 16:39; 5. Jaime Zuluaga, Duque Manizales, 16:39; 6. S. Baroschillogallo, Roshillogakki, 17:06; 7. Emanuel Gatcia, Anáppolis 17:20; 8. Fernando Irias, Tegucigalpa, 17:33; 9. Dy-Onn Courtar, Noord, 17:37; 10. Marcus Silva, Hamilton, 17:52; 11. Stefan Lingmerth, Miami Beach, 17:57; 12. Jonathan Cuellar, Miami, 18:20; 13. Daniel Mejia, Miami, 18:25; 14. Dominik Dampc, Wejherowo, 18:37; 15. José Mario Cerrato, Tegucigalpa, 18:42; 16. Jaydrick Geerman, Oranjestad, 18:47; 17. Jasmel Acosta, Miami Beach, 18:47; 18. Carlos Andres, Caviedes, Medellin, 18:56; 19. Diego Castillo, Atha Managua, 18:57; 20. Jaime Gutierrez, Vicente Valladolid, 18:57; 21. Assane Diallo, Miami, 18:58; 22. Oren Griffith Jr, Lake Worth Beach, 19:00; 23. Alex Butler, Miami, 19:16; 24. Sotiris Tsirkoudis, Miami, 19:18; 25. Kenuard Tromp, Noord, 19:38.
Women’s results: 1. Emilie Christiansen, Miami, 18:27; 2. Amaly Williams Rojas, Panama, 18:40; 3. Andrea Corazzari, San José, 18:42; 4. Camille Kohtala, Miami, 20:40; 5. Isabela Mendes, Sao Paulo, 20:49; 6. Sarah Floyd, Boston, 21:12; 7. Caroline Reiser, Miami, 21:28; 8. Maria Naranjo Mejia, Manizales, 21:30; 9. Maria Emilia Pozo, Chelsea, 21:50; 10. Maria Jimenez Torres, Popayan, 21:53; 11. Marta Rojas Cartagena, 21:54; 12. Alina Prysjaznuk, Mlade, 22:01; 13. Jennifer Curtis, New York, 22:18; 14. Ximena Gonzalez, Zappopan, 22:48; 15. Elizabeth Waywell, Guelph, 22:48; 16. Cossio Yalile, Miami, 22:55; 17. Natalie Burrowes, Pikesville, 22:56; 18. Alexis Kreis, Miami, 23:02; 19. Laura Mendez, Miami Beach, 23:06; 20. Carolina Ocampo, Hialeah, 23:09; 21. Fanny Gallant, Miami, 23:11; 22. Tara Nuss Sioux Falls, 23:14; 23. Karen Blake, Miami, 23:20; 24. Edda Hernández, Siguatepeque, 23:23; 25. Lynn Johnston, Moorestown, 23:35.
