By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Irina Bogacheva, left, and Svetlana Vasilieva battle
down the stretch in the Honolulu Marathon. Vasilieva held off
Bogacheva to win the women's division.
It’s Kimaiyo,
Vasilieva
The Kenyan repeats
By Pat Bigold
in the men's division; Russian wins
a physical women's race
Star-BulletinEXPLOSIVE described the men's and women's races in yesterday's 25th Honolulu Marathon. Kenya's 28-year-old Eric Kimaiyo capped off his brilliant year of marathoning with a surprising breakaway on the second most elevated part of the course to win for the second straight year. His time in the 26.2-mile race -- 2 hours, 12 minutes and 17 seconds -- on a cool 66-degree day was the fastest since 1989.
It was one minute and 16 seconds faster than his 1996 time and was the fastest since the course was altered in 1992.
Kimaiyo and the other leaders benefited from running in darkness until sunrise broke over Diamond Head at about 7 a.m. The race began at 5 a.m. on Ala Moana Boulevard.
By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Runners rejoice after crossing the finish line yesterday
in the 25th Honolulu Marathon.
In the women's race, 27-year-old Russian Svetlana Vasilieva improved on last year's runner-up performance to win at 2:33:14. Irina Bogacheva of Kyrghiztan (located between Kazakstan and northwestern China), the leader for three-quarters of the race, accused Vasilieva of getting physical with her late in the race.It was the second time in a row a Russian woman has won the race. Rumila Burangulova won last year in 2:34:28. Kimaiyo's win was the eighth by a Kenyan man at Honolulu.
There were 26,467 finishers in the event, making Honolulu the third largest marathon in the world this year behind New York City and London. More than 33,000 signed up to run here this year.
Kimaiyo made the critical move to break away from his closest challenger, countryman Jimmy Muindi, when least expected. Approaching Mile 24 near Triangle Park, where the course rises from 10 to 100 feet above sea level at Diamond Head Lookout, he accelerated to complete the next mile in 4 minutes and 40 seconds. Muindi said he experienced stomach trouble and was unable to respond to Kimaiyo's unusually strong uphill surge.
''It was just a major increase of speed when Kimaiyo did make his move," said Tony Longhurst, agent for third-place finisher Thabiso Moqhali of South Africa.''I fear nothing," said Kimaiyo, the fourth fastest marathoner in the world in 1997 thanks to a 2:07:43 finish in Berlin. He also ran 2:08:08 at the London Marathon.
Jim Barahal, president of the Honolulu Marathon Association, said he was amazed by Kimaiyo's move since he had dropped off the lead group by 30 to 40 yards near Mile 14.
''He made a hard move and then just fell way back and we thought he was on the verge of dropping out of the race," said Barahal, who followed in the men's pace truck.
Kimaiyo also won last year with an explosive late-race move, but he made it earlier and sustained it longer. Last year, he turned in seven sub-five minute miles between the 16th and 23rd miles to finish in 2:13:23.
Had it been as warm as last year, Vasilieva and rival Bogacheva probably wouldn't have had enough energy to engage in the flare-up at the 18th mile.
That's where the 36-year-old Bogacheva snapped at Vasilieva for allegedly making physical contact with her. Bogacheva insisted that Vasilieva, a native of Cheboksary, a town 430 miles north of Moscow, nudged her with her forearm and poked her with her finger as she ran close behind her.
By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Leg cramps had Naohiro Seo grimacing in pain.
Mary Slaney, who was riding in the women's pace car and broadcast the race, said Bogacheva tried several times to get Vasilieva to take the lead and share the work up front. But Vasilieva preferred to follow close behind and draft off the taller Bogacheva.''Then Svetlana decided to make a move and started to pull away decisively at about 20 miles," Slaney said.
Slaney said she saw the problem between the two women coming.
''I didn't see blatant pushing, shoving or elbowing -- none of that sort of thing," Slaney said. ''But it was apparent that she (Vasilieva) wanted to be close and didn't want to leave, and the other woman got a little fed up with it. I do understand how if someone touches you, especially after running 18 miles, it can interrupt your rhythm."
While Vasilieva was being interviewed by newspaper, radio and TV reporters after her victory, Bogacheva confronted her again. Vasilieva defended herself with the aid of her coach, two-time Olympic marathon medalist Valentina Yegorova.
''Svetlana did not touch Bogacheva at all," Yegorova said.
Bogacheva, who finished in 2:34:01, stormed away from the exchange nearly in tears, saying, ''I ask her why she do that, why she do that!"
About 20 minutes later, in the elite athletes' tent, Bogacheva and Vasilieva got into another shouting match, this time with Bogacheva's coach by her side.
Partial Marathon Results
By Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin
Kailua's Chris Crawford, left, runs with women's leaders
Irina Bogacheva, to his left, and Svetlana Vasilieva, drafting
behind Bogacheva. Crawford finished 49th among the men in 2:41.50.
Local runners find
By Jack Wyatt
own rewards
Special to the Star-BulletinVisitors ran roughshod over the locals during yesterday's 25th Honolulu Marathon, sweeping the top 31 places in the men's division and the first 17 places in the women's race. Visitors also pocketed the run's entire $107,000 purse.
So why were Honolulu participants John Smith, Jonathan Lyau and the Schnack twins -- Cynthia and Carolyn -- all smiles after finishing?
As the fastest of the locals, they were each recognized and presented with expense-paid trips overseas as prizes.
''I never thought I'd be the first Hawaii finisher,'' said Smith, 36, a University of Hawaii research oceanographer.
''I figured Brian Salter would finish well ahead. I was shocked when I caught and passed him just 400 meters from the finish.''
Smith arrived at the Kapiolani Park finish 32nd among men in two hours, 35 minutes and 24 seconds. Salter, 24, a former Hawaii Pacific University cross country standout, arrived 23 seconds later.
''With the finish line in sight, I saw Brian just head. I picked up my pace and kind of snuck up on him,'' Smith said.
''Brian kept his lead for a few strides but couldn't hold on. For local runners, this was a competitive race,'' he said.
In winning the men's Hawaii resident crown, Smith received an expense-paid trip to a North American marathon of his choice.
Cynthia Schnack, 34, led Hawaii's women in 3:01:10. Her sister Carolyn arrived just behind in 1:37. They finished 18th and 19th among women overall.
''We ran together for a few miles,'' Cynthia said, ''Sometimes Caroline finishes ahead, sometimes I win. In this race I lucked out.''
Both women won trips -- Cynthia as the first Hawaii resident and Caroline as the leading born-in-Hawaii kamaaina.
For the fifth consecutive year, Lyau topped the kamaaina men's division. The running coach finished 52nd place in 2:42:07.
Michael Georgi, 45, a Punahou School economics teacher and running coach, won the local 40 years and over men's masters division, finishing in 2:41:15.
Connie Comiso-Fanelli, 41, a Honolulu nurse, topped the local women's masters with a 3:21:37 finish -- a time she believes should have been faster.
''The congestion at the start caused by slower participants merging in front of higher seeded runners was unbelievable. It was a mess,'' a disappointed Comiso-Fanelli said.
Jacob Heilveil, 27, a former Oahu resident now living in Washington state, won the wheelchair division with a speedy 1:32:02 finish.
First-time marathoners stood proud at yesterday's post-race ceremonies.
''The emotion. The excitement. What a huge rush,'' said Sarah Spoehr Jenny, a Honolulu school teacher, after finishing her first ''Big Event'' in 4:18.
''Sure I was nervous. Sure I was forced to slow my run to a walk three times. But what an experience. Everyone should run a marathon at least once.''
Jenny's inspiration came from her mother, Joyce Spoehr of Manoa, who finished her 31st marathon yesterday.
Sophomore Debbie Smuda of the University of Hawaii women's cross country team won a medal in her first marathon try.
''Cross country races are just three miles in length. A marathon is 26.2. It was scary in the beginning but got better as I ran along,'' the 20-year-old Smuda said after her 3:50 performance.
Punahou water polo coaches Ken Smith, 50, and Mark Maretzki, 30, each experienced their first marathon plunge.
''We ran together for the first 17 miles when Mark pulled away,'' Smith said, ''but I finished strong and didn't have to walk. I'm already looking forward to my next one.''
Maretzki finished in 3:56, while Smith arrived nine minutes later.
Couples that run together stay together? So it appears.
''Never enjoyed a marathon more,'' said Kaneohe's P.J. Salmonson, who jogged and walked the course with her husband, John.
Some marathoning couples go their separate ways.
''We've made a pact -- never wait for the other while racing,'' said Sandra Burgess, who finished yesterday's marathon 47 minutes ahead of Bill, her husband.
''Just wait until my injuries have healed. Then I'll get Sandra,'' he said.
Kailua's Kathleen Barcia, 31, just days away from an impending marriage, still maintained enough composure to run a spectacular 3:19.
Faerber Flyers women runners entered 50 participants; Mid Pacific Road Runners turned out 60; Hash House Harriers enrolled another 40, while coach Brian Clarke and his School of Running fielded 68 students.
Even kayak and canoe paddlers turned out for marathoning in force.
''A welcome change -- a different set of muscles used,'' said paddler Donna Meyer of Kailua Canoe Club, who finished yesterday in a comfortable four hours.
''More difficult than a paddling race from Molokai to Oahu,'' Outrigger Canoe Club's Katy Bourne said of marathoning. Bourne finished in 3:39.
Free leg and body massage continues to be a post marathon highlight.
''We'll be treating more than 600 runners, each to a 10-minute massage, before this day has finished,'' said Fumihiko Indei of the Aisen Shiatsu School.
Due to the high course temperatures for late arriving finishers, the marathon's medical staff was kept busy.
''For visitors, conditions were hot and humid,'' said medic Tom Johnston.
Partial Marathon Results
