Rotich, Kusutani Repeat at the 36th Maui Marathon
By Patrice Malloy
Posted Monday, 18 September, 2006
KAANAPALI, Maui, Hawaii - (September 17, 2006) - Jacob Rotich of Kenya made a historic run on Maui, known as the Magic Isle, with a three-peat win at the 36th Maui Marathon held Sunday, September 17, 2006.
His time of 2 hours, 33 minutes and 44 seconds was Rotich's third consecutive Maui Marathon win - a feat never accomplished at the event since its inaugural run in 1971.
In the women's division, defending champion Sayuri Kusutani, 47, of Japan also repeated a triumphant performance, winning in 3:05:12. Her efforts earned her a $2250 payday - $1500 for the win and $750 for first female masters finisher.
Strong trade winds along the marathon's 17-mile oceanfront course put the brakes on hopes for record performances on the scenic point-to-point course. The day's temperatures ranged from 72 degrees at the 5:30am start to the low 80s three hours into the run.
"My goal was to improve on my time from the last two years," said Rotich. "But the head winds and heat slowed me down." He won the 2005 and 2004 competitions in 2:27:58 and 2:28:14, respectively. The Maui Marathon is the only marathon he has ever run.
Maui resident, Joe Alueta, was the runner-up finishing in 2:43:04. His second place $750 prize was augmented by a $750 bonus for placing first Maui male finisher.
James Sheremeta, 42, who placed fourth in the event in 2000, third in 2002 and second in 2003, placed third and first masters runner. "Out of the four Maui Marathons I have run, this one had the most challenging conditions," said Sheremeta, who finished in 2:44:30.
Even in paradise, some of the best-laid plans can go awry. Kusutani, the women's champion, planned to run a conservative first half and then pick up the pace. "Easier said than done," said Kusutani, who started to feel the effects of the wind, heat and humidity. A graduate student living in Honolulu, Kusutani has a marathon PR of 2:40:05, which she set at the Berlin Marathon in 2000.
The third annual Maui Half Marathon was won by Josphat Boit of Kenya in 1:07:06. Boit and countryman Jonah Maiyo were on Maui to compete in the Front Street Mile in Lahaina on Saturday, September 16. Both men ran the half-marathon as a training run. Stephanie Dickson of Smyrna, Georgia, won the women's division in 1:27:46.
Over 2,900 runners from 14 countries and 48 states participated in this year's marathon, half-marathon and Maui Tacos 5K.
36th Maui Marathon
Kaanapali, Maui, HI, Sunday, September 17, 2006
MEN
1) Jacob Rotich, Kenya, 2:33:44, $1500
2) Joe Alueta, Wailuku, HI, 2:43:04, $1500*
3) James Sheremeta, 42, La Jolla, CA, 2:44:30, $1250**
*Includes $750 for 2nd male and $750 for 1st Maui resident prize
**Includes $500 for 3rd male and $750 for 1st masters male
WOMEN
1) Sayuri Kusutani, 47, Japan, 3:05:12, $2250*
2) Noriko Murakami, Japan, 3:06:28, $750
3) Yoko Yamazawa, Japan, 3:10:35, $500
*Includes $1500 for first woman and $750 for first masters woman
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