Jackson surprises self in fast start
| • | Challenge, triumph ignite 2001 marathon |
| • | Kenya's Hussein Marathon champ |
| • | Russian women dominate, finishing 1-2-3 |
| • | Schabort uses mental edge for fourth consecutive title |
| • | Age group winners |
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See video of the top men and women finishers |
By Mike Tymn
Special to The Advertiser
Some local runners wondered what Jodi Jackson was doing during the first four miles of yesterday's Honolulu Marathon.
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Jackson, 24, was the early leader in the women's race. The favored Russians would not pass her until the fifth mile.
Jodi Jackson was the first female kama'aina to finish.
"I didn't think I went out that fast, but I guess the excitement of the race got to me," said Jackson, best known for her swimming accomplishments.
"At around 16 miles, I was starting to cramp up and was thinking I should have taken it out a little slower. But I held it together and am very happy with my time."
Jackson, now a University of Hawai'i medical student, clocked 2 hours, 52 minutes, 35 seconds to finish eighth in the women's field and win the kama'aina award. With the trophy goes a trip to another marathon.
Cheryl Smith, UH's standout cross-country runner, was actually the first Honolulu resident to finish, averaging 6:22.3 per mile and recording 2:47:01 for sixth place among the women. "I had to make a bathroom stop at 20 kilometers," said Smith, 21, who was not eligible for the kama'aina award because she was not born in Hawai'i. "I checked my watch and lost two minutes there, and then it was hard to get going again. With about 10 miles to go, I started to really pick it up and feeling good again."
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Smith added that she did not do marathon-specific training for the race. "I'm just coming off cross country and was approaching this as a fun run," she said.
Jonathan Lyau finished 24th overall in the marathon.
After graduating next year, Smith hopes to focus more on the marathon.
Carolyn Schnack, a 38-year-old lawyer, was the third local woman, finishing 10th among all women in 2:55:36. Cynthia Schnack, her twin sister, and last year''s kama'aina winner, was fourth among the local women in 3:08:09. While most runners complained about the strong winds, Carolyn Schnack said she didn't feel they were that bad.
"The wind was a lot better than I had expected," she said. "It hit us only three or four times."
Jonathan Lyau, 37, won the kama'aina award for men, finishing 24th overall in 2:40:21. According to the computerized results, George Newsome, 27, of 'Ewa Beach was the first Hawai'i finisher with a 2:38:08.
"The wind was really wicked," said Lyau, a former state high school cross-country champion, mentioning that he was battling with Clint Sheeley, the first Hawai'i resident to finish last year. "I ended up in a pack of nine guys and that helped me (with the wind). I took the lead (among local runners) at nine miles."
Sheeley, 35, finished one place behind Lyau with a 2:41:12.
Newsome and Lyau were also awarded trips to another marathon.
John Smith, 40, topped the local masters (40-over) with a 2:46:00.
