Marathon Concludes Busy Running Weekend

Early-morning leaders of today’s Maui Marathon go through Aid Station #2 at about the 3-mile mark on Highway 30 before Waiko Road. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

The point-to-point Maui Marathon got underway this morning at 5 a.m. from Kaahumanu Center. The 26.2-mile race finish is in Kaanapali, near the Whaler’s Village Shopping Center.

Considered one of the ten most scenic marathons in the United States as well as the oldest consecutive running marathon in Hawaii. Today’s winner was expected to finish at about 7:45 a.m., concluding a busy weekend of running on the Valley Isle.

Maui Lani residents and brothers Dane (left) and Neil Sorensen decided to wake up early Sunday morning to show their support for the Maui Marathon runners. The two set up their drums and amp just the traffic light near Maui Lani golf course headed to West Maui. “We just felt like showing them some support. We’re not runners, but we can appreciate what they are doing,” said Neil Sorensen. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

The annual half marathon runs concurrently with the full marathon and starts at the marathon’s finish-line area in the Kaanapali Resort.

Hilo’s Allen Wagner, 31, is the defending champion of the full marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 43 minutes, and 33 seconds. Josh Myers, 29, of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., was second in 2012 in 2:46.49.

Tsukasa Kawarai, 26, of Tokyo won Saturday’s Maui Tacos 5K, finishing four seconds ahead of runner-up Reid Hunter, 22, a former King Kekaulike High School standout who now lives in Lahaina.

Kawarai was timed in 15 minutes, 20 seconds, followed by Hunter in 15:24. Yusuke Sasaki of Tokushima, Japan was third in 15:33.

In all, 437 runners competed in 19 age divisions.

More marathon runners make their way to Kaanapali early this morning on Highway 30 near The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Hunter was also second in the 13th Annual Run Forrest Run Front Street Mile on Saturday, finishing 13 second behind winner Brad Bickley, 22, of Calgary in 4:13. Again, Kawarai was third in 4:27.

A total of 670 runners participated in the Front Street Mile.

Also on Saturday, Motoo Hirayama, 49, of Hiroshima, Japan won the Hard Rock Cafe 10K Run in 37:07. Dave Adams, 40, of Los Angeles, Calif., was second in 38:14, followed by Ed Bickley, 55, of Calgary in 38:41.

The first local finisher in the 10K was Matt Holden, 35, of Olinda in 40:46. Holden was one of 222 runners who participated in the race. He coaches cross country and track at Seabury Hall.

For complete results of all of the races, go to http://racewire.com/live_results.php?id=3317