Posted on: Saturday, December 11, 2004
Defending champions face tough challengers
| • | Afghan marathon commences tonight |
| • | Runner is with troops in spirit |
| • | Detours set for tomorrow's marathon |
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Familiar faces will be gracing the starting line — and dueling to be first across the finish line — at the 32nd Annual Honolulu Marathon tomorrow.
• WHEN: Tomorrow, 5 a.m.. • START: Ala Moana and Queen Street extension. • CONTACT: 734-7200 or www.honolulumarathon.org. The Honolulu Marathon begins tomorrow at 5 a.m. the Ala Moana and Queen Street extension, travels down to Hawai'i Kai and back, and finishes at Kapi'olani Park.
Last year, the Honolulu Marathon was the third largest marathon in the United States, with 22,139 finishers, behind the New York City Marathon (34,729) and Chicago Marathon (32,362).
Men's race
Muindi and friendly rival Mbarak Hussein, both of Kenya, have three wins apiece and together have won the past six men's titles.
Muindi, 31, also won in 1999 and '00, with his best time of 2:12:59 in last year's race. Hussein, 39, won in '98, '01 and '02, with a race-best of 2:12:29.
Erick Kimaiyo, 35, of Kenya, the winner of the '96 and '97 races, returns for the first time since '99, when he finished in second place, behind Muindi. He also finished second to Hussein in '98. His fastest race here was 2:12:17 in '97.
Also running are Kenyans David Mutua, 27, Mathew Sigei, 21, Boniface Usisivu, 30, and Ethiopians Terefe Yae, 24, and Gudisa Shentema, 23.
Mutua placed sixth last year and fourth in 2002, and the others are all making their Honolulu Marathon debuts.
Women's race
Last year, Hayakawa, 23, became the first female from Japan to win the Honolulu Marathon. More than 60 percent of the field of 22,495 were from Japan (14,115 runners from Japan finished) in the 2003 race.
Course record holder Lyubov Morgunova, 33, wasn't in last year's competition, because she was injured in a car accident in Moscow. Morgunova, of Russia, set the record in 2000 (2:28:33) and defended her title in 2001.
She returns this year, but hasn't competed in a major race since September 2003, when she won the Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
All of the top four finishers from last year's race are back, including Russians Alevtina Ivanova, 29 (finished second last year in 2:33:49), Albina Ivanova, 26 (third in 2:34:36; no relation to Alevtina), and Olga Romanova, 24 (fourth in 2:39:49).
Romanova was going to be the pacesetter last year, but chose to compete after Morgunova pulled out of the competition.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457. • • • TOP CONTENDERS MEN Jimmy Muindi Mbarak Hussein Erick Kimaiyo David Matua Matthew Sigei Boniface Usisivu Gudisa Shentema Terefe Yae Eri Hayakawa Lyubov Morgunova Alevtina Ivanova Albina Ivanova Olga Romanova
Defending champions Jimmy Muindi and Eri Hayakawa are back, but are being challenged by several past champions.
HONOLULU MARATHON
WOMEN
