Big Islanders compete in 125th Boston Marathon
For the first time in its 125-year history, the Boston Marathon was held in October — not in April as part of the Patriots’ Day holiday commemorating the start of the Revolutionary War — but occurring just a day after the 2021 Chicago Marathon.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, race organizers of the oldest annually run marathon in the world were forced to postpone the 26.2-mile race twice — once in 2020, and then again in April of this year, to finally getting the greenlight to hold the in-person event on October 11.
While Monday’s Boston Marathon continued with tradition being the only major marathon to be held on a weekday, there were some other notable changes. Of the 18, 252 entrants — a reduced field size in an effort to enhance social distancing compared to 31,500 in recent years — 93% were fully vaccinated with the remaining required to provide a negative COVID test before the race. Masks were required indoors in Boston and on event transportation out to the start, and also within the staging area.
A rolling wave start and shrunken field size didn’t seem to bother Benson Kipruto and Diana Kipyokei, both from Kenya, who won the male and female titles respectively.
Kipruto, who finished 10th in the 2019 edition, didn’t make his move until late, but built a 46-second lead before breaking the tape on Boylston Street — in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 51 seconds. Ethiopians Lemi Berhanu (2:10:37) and Jemal Yimer (2:10:38) were second and third, respectively. Colin Bennie of Princeton, Massachusetts, was the top American and placed seventh (2:11:26).
On the women’s side, Kipyokei claimed the women’s title in 2:24:45. The 27-year old surged at mile 18 and never looked back in her major marathon debut. And, it turned out to be a Kenyan sweep as Edna Kiplagat, the 2017 winner, was second in 2:25:09, with Mary Ngugi in third at 2:25:20. The top female American was Nell Rojas who placed sixth in 2:27:12.
Hawaii was well represented with 49 registered entrants and 39 posting finishing times. Several Big Islanders who I recognized in the results that completed the 26.2-mile trek were Mele Demille (3:17:21), Mark Ravaglia (3:18:04), Amy Young (3:43:12), Brenda Avery (3:54:14), Sally Marrack (3:57:06), and Tonya Rude (4:34:59). Congratulation to all who competed! Complete results for the 2021 Boston Marathon can be found at flotrack.org.
2021 Boston Marathon Results
Hawaii Finishers:Time:
Avery, Brenda (USA)3:54:14
Bariyanga, Joseph (USA)3:16:04
Bartolome, Jerry (USA)3:35:38
Capman, Tracy (USA)4:30:22
Catbagan, Jay (USA)3:00:51
Cooper, Shelly (USA)4:33:39
Dela Cruz, Jay (USA)3:03:16
Demille, Mele (USA)3:17:21
Dixon, Karen (USA)4:11:35
Edgmon, Mary (USA)3:44:42
Feldman, Brad (USA)4:20:44
Fleming, Jonathan (USA)2:59:12
Fujimura, Satomi (JPN)3:35:48
Haen, Carlos (USA)3:08:01
Huddleston, Rodney (USA)4:18:50
Imada, Kristen (USA)3:29:53
Israelsen, Karl (USA)3:38:03
Jerome, Craig (USA)3:13:51
Kwong, Angela (USA)4:03:27
Ledesma, Lisa (USA)5:24:56
Loving, Samantha (USA)4:18:54
Marrack, Sally (USA)3:57:06
Marumoto, Glen (USA)3:55:55
Moncur, Max (USA)3:22:08
Morita, Naomi (USA)4:33:28
Ng, Janice (USA)3:35:44
Nishimoto, Jan (USA)3:49:08
Pauole De Sa, Uilani (USA)3:53:52
Peroff, Lory (USA)3:31:36
Ravaglia, Mark (USA)3:18:04
Roberts, Valentine (USA)2:58:55
Rude, Tonya (USA)4:34:59
Santilli, Sara (USA)3:41:33
Sousa, Grace (USA)3:21:54
Tamashiro, Cheryl (USA)3:55:24
Todd, Matthew (USA)3:18:54
Villanueva, Dawn (USA)4:57:49
Yamashiro, Fuchsia (USA)3:43:42
Young, Amy (USA)3:43:12
