LIHU‘E — Toby Widdicombe of Anchorage, Alaska, burned through the 13-mile Half Marathon course to finish first overall Tuesday when the Kaua‘i Marathon got underway, virtually.
Some participants in the 12th Annual Kaua‘i Marathon and Half Marathon moved to the virtual race, Stride for Kaua‘i, after the novel coronavirus shut out the event from its physical course in and around Po‘ipu. Virtual race participants can complete the marathon or half marathon mileage continuously, on the same day and on the route and time of their choosing. This can be done now, and all times must be uploaded to raceentry.com by the end of the day Sunday, Sept. 6.
Following Widdicombe, Mark Swanson completed his half-marathon course in 1 hour, 56 minutes, 19 seconds, on a course in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. This was nearly seven minutes back of Widdicombe, who tripped the clock at 1:49:26 in Alaska.
Widdicombe is 65 years old, and Swanson is 66 years old.
Linda Proctor, 68, of Langley, Canada, became the first woman, and the third overall finisher, across the half marathon course with a run of 3:00.58.
Three Kaua‘i women posted finishes in the Virtual Kama‘aina Half Marathon, led by Olivia Lutkevich, an Island School cross county runner during the 2019 school year. Lutkevich crossed her half marathon tape on a 2:11:37 run, followed about eight minutes later by Kolomana Jacinto of Lihu‘e, who stopped the clock on a 2:19:41 trip. Leesha Kawamura of Kapa‘a filled in the No. 3 overall spot on a 2:25.00 outing.
Clayton and Ellen Harbeck of McKinney, Texas, shared a finish in the virtual marathon, stopping the clock at 9 hours, 1 minute, and 25 seconds for the 26-mile course.
Sally Cravens was the overall first finisher in the virtual kama‘aina marathon, stopping the clock at 6:51:15.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
