PO‘IPU — Tyler McCandless repeated Sunday as The Kaua‘i Marathon champion for the second straight year at the oceanfront finish area set up at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort. Battling through the early morning deluge, the hills, tight competition and high
PO‘IPU — Tyler McCandless repeated Sunday as The Kaua‘i Marathon champion for the second straight year at the oceanfront finish area set up at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort.
Battling through the early morning deluge, the hills, tight competition and high humidity, McCandless fell short of his course record, tripping the clock at 2:23:52, about a half minute off the record, but still claimed the marathon title for the second time.
The 4th annual Kaua‘i Marathon and Half Marathon drew 1,829 participants, the largest field since the event started four years ago, with Kaua‘i leading the charge with 553 runners.
Dickie Chang, the emcee for the event, said the field was made up of runners representing 45 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., as well as 15 countries.
McCandless, who won the Iwaki City Marathon before returning to Kaua‘i, hails from Boulder, Colo.
“Last year, I came to the Garden Isle of Kaua‘i with a goal of winning the race,” McCandless said in a release. “I ended the day with a win and a course record. Today, I ran as best I could and came up just off my course record, but did not come up short of an incredible experience. The aloha spirit of the race in unrivaled, and I’m very proud to be a two-time Kaua‘i Marathon champion.”
Rumi Otani, running for Iwaki City, nursed a leg injury this year, settling for a 39th finish at 3:33:49.
Brett Ely of Natick, Mass., topped the women runners, smashing the women’s marathon record by more than 15 minutes, stopping the clock at 2:46:02.
Throughout the race, Ely and Devon Crosby-Helms, recent San Francisco Marathon champion, dogged each other. The public was kept apprised of the race through reports by Ron Wiley, who updated the crowd between announcing names of finishers. Crosby-Helms followed Ely at 2:49:28.
“This was the most challenging marathon course I have run, but the most rewarding,” Ely said. “The community support and aloha along the course was amazing, with event volunteers as well as residents in neighborhoods cheering on the runners.”
Troy Harrison of Waterfall, Pa., topped the half marathon on a 1:15:15 run, dogging McCandless through the early stages before relinquishing the lead to the defending champion. McCandless, in his finish, ran a 5:30 pace while Harrison finished at a 5:45 pace.
Emily Shertzer of Jonestown, Pa., topped the women finishers on a 1:21:19 run for her second top finish.
Both Harrison and Shertzer are part of the Team National Guard which fielded more than 80 runners in The Kaua‘i Marathon.
Jordan Kahawai, running with his dad Leland, quickly outdistanced his father, finishing as the top Kaua‘i male finisher in the half marathon, stopping the clock at 1:25:54 for a 6:34 pace at 15th overall.
Chelsea Smith-Wishard, a Kaua‘i High School running coach and former runner, was the first Kaua‘i finisher, ending 27th overall at 1:28:45, or a 6:47 pace, the same as Jessica Smith of Roanoke, Texas, who filled in second place for the women on a 1:28:45 run.
Mark Bogner of Kalaheo and Brooke Sugahara of Kapa‘a filled in the 25th and 26th spots, respectively, in the full marathon as the top Kaua‘i finishers.
Bogner stopped the clock at 3:22:14, or a 7:44 pace, while Sugahara crossed at 3:23:18, or a 7:46 pace, tying with Sabina Piras of Livermore, Calif.
Sponsors for The Kaua‘i Marathon include the County of Kaua‘i, Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa, which served as the official resort of the event, Fresh Point, Kaua‘i Coffee, Kalapaki Joe’s, Kaua‘i Heritage Properties, Po‘ipu Beach Resort Association and Holo Holo Boat Tours.
Numerous other local businesses and agencies assisted by providing volunteer lunches, accommodations and supplies for the medical tent.
More than $7,000 was donated to local nonprofit groups who volunteered for race day activities including the Niumalu Canoe Club, the Kalaheo Elementary School, Koloa Elementary School, Kapa‘a High School Project Grad and Waimea High School Project Grade.
Registration is now open for the 2013 The Kaua‘i Marathon which will be run on Sept. 1, 2013. Visit www.thekauaimarathon.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
