A 19-year-old from Jacksonville who started running 5Ks with his mother during the COVID-19 pandemic is now headed to the starting line of one of the world's biggest road races. Caleb Prewitt, who has Down syndrome, is on track to become the youngest person with Down syndrome to run the New York City Marathon when the race goes off on November 1.
New York Road Runners named Prewitt to its 26-member Team Inspire roster on October 6, selecting him out of nearly 60,000 entrants for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon field, according to New York Road Runners. Team Inspire selects athletes who represent each mile of the marathon course to showcase stories of resilience and inclusion. Prewitt will race under bib number 16968, and fans can track his progress through the TCS New York City Marathon app, according to Action News Jax.
A Running Habit Born Out of Lockdown
Prewitt's athletic career began modestly. He started running with his mother, Karen Prewitt, during the pandemic, and the pair completed a 5K together on Thanksgiving 2020, per the same Action News Jax report. A family friend named Stephen later suggested Caleb try a 10K after that first 5K, Karen Prewitt told the outlet. Caleb Prewitt has said simply that he loved running.
That early momentum snowballed. Prewitt has since completed 10Ks, six half marathons, two marathons, and multiple triathlons, the station reports. He now holds three world records, including his title as the youngest person with Down syndrome to run a half marathon. Guinness World Records officially certified that mark on February 4, 2024, after Prewitt finished the Donna Half Marathon in Jacksonville Beach at age 16 years and 326 days, according to Guinness World Records, in the II2 category for athletes with intellectual impairments.
From Chicago to London to New York
Prewitt's marathon resume has grown quickly over the past year. He completed the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in October 2025 at age 18, becoming the youngest person with Down syndrome to earn an Abbott World Marathon Majors Star, and he went on to finish the London Marathon in April 2026 in 7 hours and 28 minutes, according to NextSteps Step Up For Students. In July 2026, he entered the 12-hour Sombrero Sizzler race in Jacksonville aiming to complete at least 50 kilometers and become the youngest person with Down syndrome to finish an ultramarathon, as reported by Running & Endurance News.
Prewitt was born with two congenital heart defects, including a ventricular septal defect, but received full medical clearance from his cardiologist to pursue endurance running without physical restrictions, the same outlet notes. Down syndrome occurs in roughly 1 in every 640 live births in the United States, resulting in nearly 5,700 babies born with the condition nationwide each year, per that report.
A Mentor Who Blazed the Trail
Prewitt's pivot into multi-sport endurance training traces back to 2021, when he met Chris Nikic, the Florida athlete who in 2020 became the first person with Down syndrome to complete a 140.6-mile Ironman triathlon, according to CBS News. Nikic's achievement also made him a role model for Prewitt. The following year, in March 2022, Prewitt was named the youngest ambassador in the history of the USA Triathlon Foundation at age 15, per USA Triathlon.
Caleb Prewitt was diagnosed with Down syndrome one day after he was born, Action News Jax reports. His parents, Karen and David Prewitt, decided to raise him the same way as his siblings without Down syndrome. His parents' approach was to raise him alongside his siblings.
Jacksonville Roots and a Growing Platform
Away from racecourses, Prewitt attends the Eagle Academy transition program at the North Florida School of Special Education in Jacksonville, where he has studied since age five using a Florida unique-abilities scholarship, according to NextSteps Step Up For Students. He also serves on the board of Jacksonville's We Rise Foundation. His Instagram account, calebscrew, has grown to more than 46,000 followers, Action News Jax reports; it began as a way to raise awareness for Down syndrome and now also promotes inclusion.
His New York City run fits into a broader shift among major marathons toward inclusive race divisions. The TCS New York City Marathon's Team Inspire roster features athletes whose stories highlight resilience and inclusion. For Prewitt, the November 1 race in New York represents the latest step in a journey that started with a single 5K alongside his mother six years ago.
