WAIKOLOA — Andreas Wenger flew to Hawaii to meet some friends for a vacation. A Kona Marathon title was never really in his plans.
The Switzerland native, who now lives in Singapore, won the 22nd edition of the marathon in 2 hours, 54 minutes and 54 seconds at Waikoloa Beach Resort on Sunday.
“I didn’t expect this to happen,” said Wenger.
Wenger wasn’t just being modest. Proof to that statement can likely be found by tracing his itinerary.
“I was looking for things to do while I was here, saw the Kona Marathon and signed up. Then I found out I was going to the wrong island,” said Wenger, who had originally tabbed Oahu as his vacation destination. “But we came over here and had a great time seeing the sites — Volcano and the black sand beach. And, of course, this was a terrific race.”
Honolulu’s Yuko Nakai repeated as the women’s champion, completing the 26.2-mile course in 3:24:29. Nakai ran alone for most of the day, reaching the finish line more than 15 minutes ahead of the next closest female finisher.
“It was hot — much hotter than last year,” Nakai said. “I give a lot of credit to the aid stations. They always had something cold for us to drink. They helped me out a ton and gave great encouragement.”
The duo both set course records, but that was because Sunday’s race was the first time the event was being held in Waikoloa. The previous route ran through Kailua-Kona.
Athletes were greeted with nearly perfect weather at the new venue and reviews of the picturesque course came back positive. However, there were some tough stretches. The most unanimous selection was the grueling out-and-back on the black asphalt of Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
“Once you get to the turnaround it gets pretty tough. You reach it and realize you have to run all the way back,” Wenger laughed. “The legs started to go a little bit but I was able to make it through to the end.
Defending male champion Thomas Sands finished third overall. He held a slight lead until the midway stage of the race, but was hit with massive fatigue after Mile 15. Things went sideways for Sands after that. He said he had a hard time keeping liquid down and started to get bad cramps.
“It was a lot tougher than last year. The hills and heat really played a factor,” Sands said. “I managed to slog through the last few miles, and I was happy to make the podium. Next year I will hopefully balance my training a bit better.”
Sandwiched by Wegner and Sands, Naokatsu Miura, of Japan, finished second overall.
For the women, Kiyomi Shimizu, of Aiea, took second in 3:40:39 and Canadian runner Diana Butler rounded out the women’s podium, stopping the clock at 3:42:35.
Wenger was unsure about returning to the event, but Nakai assured that she will be back and hopes to make it a three-peat in 2016.
Half marathon
The Big Island was well represented in the half marathon race, which hosted 605 participants.
Kailua-Kona compadres Kenneth Stover (1:22:37) and Mike DeCarli (1:25:43) finished first and second overall, and Hilo’s Joshua Sharp rounded out the top three males.
Professional triathlete Bree Wee – who was coming off a third place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Centrair Chita Peninsula Japan earlier this month — took home top honors on the female side. She crossed the finish line in 1:26:42. Honolulu’s Mariane Uehara was second at 1:33:41, and Washington runner Laura Lavezo (1:35:58) came in third.
Quarter marathon
Waiakea cross-country and track standout Louie Ondo finished first in the race, coming in at 41:03.
Hilo’s Stephen Hunter (42:01) and Kona’s Jon Jokiel (43:23) made it an all-Big Island top three for the men.
Tiffany Nakamura won the women’s quarter with a time of 51:56. Colorado’s Lara Johnson (51:57) finished second, and Kona athlete Haley Urry (53:04) followed in third place.
5K
Peaman phenom and Konawaena high school student Cody Ranfranz won the 5K event in 16:21, running at a 5:16 pace.
Coming in just five second back was 51-year-old Jonathan Lyau (16:26), in second place.
Kiyena Beatty was the fastest female, finishing in 20:15.