Runners From Japan Sweep Maui Marathon Titles

September 16, 2008 by Patrice Malloy from press release (Maui, HI) Junichi Kawabata and Youko Yamazawa of Japan ran away from the men’s and women’s fields respectively to capture victories at the 38th Maui Marathon held Sunday, September 14, 2008. Kawabata led the men’s race from the get-go, finishing in 2:36:24 – nearly 14 minutes ahead of Clement Simon of France who placed second in 2:50:05. Yoshiaki Mikami of Japan was third in 2:52:47.

Yamazawa secured the women’s lead half-way into the race and never relinquished it, finishing in 2:09:40, more than 15 minutes ahead of second-place finisher Sharon Moran of Honolulu (3:25:37). Chiharu Mikami of Japan finished third (3:26:09). It was Yamazawa’s third Maui Marathon and her and
first victory.

The scenic point-to-point Maui Marathon course starts in Kahului, run along Maui’s coastal Honoapiilani Highway and through the historic whaling village of Lahaina before finishing in front of Whaler’s Village in the Ka’anapali.Beach Resort. The out-and-back Maui Half Marathon course started at the marathon finish line in Ka’anapali and followed the last 6 ½ miles of the marathon course including seaside Lahaina.

The fifth annual Maui Half Marathon was won by Michael Dawdy of Texas of with a time of 1:14:38. Krissandra Berens of Hawaii placed first in the women’s division in 1:27:39.

Over 2,234 runners representing 19 different countries were registered in the 26.2 and 13.1-mile events. Race day temperatures ranged from 70s at the 5:30am start in Kahului to the low to mid- 80s at the finish in Ka’anapali.

The events benefited the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, the Arthritis Foundation's Joints in Motion program and over 11 local charities. Major sponsors include: the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Maui Visitors Bureau, Kaanapali Beach Resort Association and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa.

For more information and complete results, please visit: www.MauiMarathon.com