KAILUA-KONA — There was something special about a marathon celebrating its 28th year the same day the country turned 250. On Saturday morning while most of Kona was still asleep, nearly a thousand runners laced up at the Royal Kona Resort and Spa ready to kick off not just another race day, but the Fourth of July festivities for the west side of the Big Island.

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KAILUA-KONA — There was something special about a marathon celebrating its 28th year the same day the country turned 250. On Saturday morning while most of Kona was still asleep, nearly a thousand runners laced up at the Royal Kona Resort and Spa ready to kick off not just another race day, but the Fourth of July festivities for the west side of the Big Island.

This was the 28th edition of the Kona Marathon Events and by 5:30 a.m., the marathoners were off and running as the sunrise rose behind Hualalai. Thirty minutes later the half-marathon field followed, then the 5K at 6:45 a.m. and the quarter marathon at 7 a.m.. Four races all funneled back through the historic Kailua Village before looping out toward Old Airport Park and returning along Ali‘i Drive.

The weather cooperated with sunny skies, which isn’t something race organizers ever take for granted especially with the heavy Kona downpour the night before. It certainly made for a good day for 970 entrants across all four distances, easily the biggest turnout since the event’s return to Kona last year.

“The Fourth of July doesn’t happen on a Saturday every year so it was a good coincidence,” said Kona Marathon race director Brent Imonen. “It’s a bigger challenge, but it also gives us more exposure to people in Kona which is awesome. Ross Wilson and the Kailua Village Business Improvement District were interested in having a kickoff event for the Fourth of July, so it made sense to move our event a few weeks back to July 4.

“It’s usually in June, but this way we can have the event and follow it up with the parade and fireworks in the evening. So far it’s worked out pretty well. I anticipated that we would have some growth from last year as we were at 801, and now we are at 970 this year. It’s nice to see that everyone is excited about this race.”

In the 26.2-mile marathon race, Jarrett Gulden from Kailua, Oahu, made the most of his first trip to the Big Island by leading wire-to-wire to win in a speedy time of 2 hours, 53 minutes and 21 seconds.

“It feels great! I’m super stoked,” said the 24-year old snorkel tour guide. “I ran in college and took some time off afterward, so it feels good to be back in shape. I ran for Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, but I’m originally from Maine.”

Gulden said he didn’t feel great around the 14-mile mark in the marathon.

“For a few miles around the 14-mile mark, I felt pretty nervous because things were getting pretty painful really fast, and I was not sure if I would be able to hold out,” Gulden said. “I also felt a little pukey, but it just kind of went away after a while and then I started feeling better. I just dunked more water on my head and kept on going. The course was beautiful, especially the sunrise this morning was awesome. I’ll definitely be back next year.”

Kailua-Kona’s Patrick Stover finished in second place with a time of 2:58:58, with Hilo’s Keola Orcino in third place with his time of 2:59:06.

Rachael Sullivan happened to be on the last day of a 16-day vacation with her family on the Big Island when she decided to jump into the marathon. It turned out to be a great decision as the 42-year old OBGYN from Lufkin, Texas won the women’s marathon title with her time of 3:41:21.

“I feel great!” said a smiling Sullivan, who has also competed in the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon and Chicago Marathon. “This is my first marathon win after doing maybe eight or nine marathons. I knew it was going to be hot so I was very conservative for the first half, maybe the first 16-miles. My plan was to stay as cool and hydrated as possible. I carried my hydration, my electrolytes, my salt tabs, my fuel and then used the water stations to dump water on my head and put ice in my hat.”

Sullivan said that she took the lead with about eight miles left.

“When I saw the first-place female, I was pumped,” Sullivan said. “I knew I felt strong and she was slowing down considerably. I knew I had more gas in my tank so that was even more motivation for me to just go for it.”

Umara Hansen from San Francisco, California was the next female to cross the finish line in 4:05:31, with Wahiawa’s Katie Russell rounding out the women’s podium in 4:06:36.

Half-marathon
(13.1-mile)

In the 13.1-mile footrace, Jeremy Keirn’s finishing time was so fast that most spectators didn’t realize that he crossed as the overall half-marathon winner. It also didn’t help that he looked quite fresh with a lot of energy left in him after what can be a grueling race. But it all made sense after the 28-year old U.S. Navy submarine instructor explained that he is a triathlete currently training for September’s Ironman Japan.

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“I’m currently training for Ironman Japan and my coach (Florian Bogge) lives out here, and so I wanted to do this as my buildup for that race on September 13,” said Keirn, who won in a blazing time of 1:15:34. “This is my first race on the Big Island, and I actually loved the race! It’s really beautiful, nice, rolling hills, nothing too aggressive. The 6 AM was a good start with the sun coming out.”

Keirn said that he and his wife have been to all the islands, but the Big Island is their favorite island.

“The island is so beautiful and big and everyone is so kind, you can feel the aloha without the super city vibe that you get on Oahu. I plan to be back for this race next year.”

Honolulu’s Gregory Zimmerman claimed second with his time of 1:23:39, with Adam Zemek in third place at 1:27:28.

Excitement continued in the women’s half-marathon race, with a sprint finish for the win. Holualoa’s Laura Ankrum had controlled the race from the beginning and almost till the very end, but with 30-yards to go, California’s Lisa Massey had other plans. Massey found another gear to sprint past Ankrum to win in a great time of 1:31:05. Ankrum was hot on her heels to take second in 1:31:09, with Hilo’s Peyton Botelho in third with her time of 1:34:50.

“It feels amazing because I didn’t expect this at all as I was just coming out to have fun,” said Massey who works for Sephora corporate. “Me and (Ankrum) were basically neck and neck the whole time. I thought she had it in the end, but I didn’t give up and kept on going. I sprinted to the finish line and came in first which was a shock!”

Massey said that she’s previously run in the Boston Marathon, but Saturday’s race was her first half-marathon.

“I have family that lives here on the Big Island over on the Kohala Ranch side,” the 44-year old said. “We came out for my sister’s birthday and she’s running in the marathon today. She inspired me to run the half marathon and I’m glad I did.”

Quarter marathon (6.55-miles) and
5K (3.1-mile)

The quarter marathon race had its own twist with another sprint finish happening for the overall win but with a very different result. In the final straightaway, Hilo’s Shane Tominaga blew past Waikoloa’s Daniel Hill to cross the finish line in first, but results don’t always match what is seen, especially when it comes down to chip timing.

Hill had started behind Tominaga at the beginning of the race, and once chip times were sorted out, his clock read a second faster. Turns out that Hill, who was second to cross the finish line, ended up winning in a great time of 39:22. Tominaga settled for second place in 39:23, with California’s Matt Pullen in third at 42:18.

Victoria Batcheller from Fargo, North Dakota claimed the women’s title in 43:13, with the next two spots going to Callie Ding of Illinois and Keaau’s Danilynn Padilla with their times of 44:57 and 46:44 respectively.

In the 5K race, California’s David Avila, Jr. won in a great time of 16:44. Kaiden Derby of Texas was next in 16:51, with Shawn Derby rounding out the men’s podium in 18:06.

Kapaau’s Maia Mandel easily won the women’s 5K race in a fabulous time of 18:58, with Halle Rust of Texas and Florida’s Adalynn Lefebvre in second and third place with their times of 21:00 and 23:17.

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