Kaneyama, Lee fastest in Saipan Marathon

Japan’s Yuki Kaneyama was the fastest overall runner, while the U.S. Navy’s Hana Lee outran every woman in the return of the full marathon course of the Saipan Marathon.

The new 42.195-kilometer full marathon course of the Skechers Saipan Marathon 2024 spanned from the starting line at the Thunder Chicken in Chalan Laulau to Banzai Cliff and to the finish line at the Hyatt Regency Saipan parking lot.

While the rest of Saipan snoozed away in bed, 70 full marathon runners woke up before the early bird and braved the 26.2-mile trek to the wild north at 4:30am, with 24-year-old Kaneyama outpacing each one of them and setting the new course record with a sub 2:45:00 at 2:44:45.

Second to Kaneyama was countryman Shohei Miyamoto at less than two minutes behind with a time of 2:46:21. Third place overall was China’s Ni Yusheng at 2:57:53.

Guam-based Lee, on the other hand, clocked in just as the sun was beaming its early morning rays in the sky with a time of 3:31:54. Aspen Egbert claimed second place with a time of 4:17:07, and third place went to the CNMI’s very own An Bang at 4:23:40.

Kaneyama and Lee won a roundtrip airline ticket from either Japan or Saipan to anywhere in Micronesia from United Airlines.

In the men’s age division rankings, Zihang Zhang was first in the 18-and-under with a time of 6:28:04; Michael Plummer snagged first in the men’s open at 3:54:19; in the 35-39, Echiyoga Tadashi was first at 4:35:48; Jensen Damon claimed first in the 40-44 at 3:21:11; Michal Biedryzycki was first in the 45-49 at 3:07:10; Ronald Villafria was first in the 50-54 at 3:58:15; Yatabe Satoshi came in first at 4:28:10 in the 55-59; and Chong Nam Lee was first in the 60+ at 4:40:22.

In the women’s age division rankings, Ahran Kim was first in the women’s open at 4:30:50; Angela Taflinger claimed first in the 40-44 at 4:32:23; Rosemarie Chisato was first in the 45-49 at 4:55:34; Malou Carlos clocked in first in the 50-54 at 5:42:55; Junko Okamoto was first in the 55-59 at 5:30:48; and in the 60+, Chun Jae Geum came in first at 5:28:10.

Kaneyama, who has run marathons in Japan, said he had always wanted to join a marathon abroad, so decided to join the Saipan Marathon. The government worker was still spry and full of energy during the awards banquet held that evening at the Hyatt Regency Saipan—as if he didn’t just run a marathon that morning, and said he definitely would want to return to Saipan. However, he’s still unsure whether he will come back next year to defend his title. As for the course, he said the weather conditions were good, making for a good run.

For 32-year-old Lee, she said she came into the race without expectations at all and just wanted to run a sub 4-hour marathon.

She said she didn’t do much training for it, but that she was ready as she could be, just as she is for anything in her life. For her, the event itself had the best aid-stations in all the marathons she’s joined. As for the course, she said it was “pretty hilly, but I expected it, so I wasn’t surprised by it.” This marathon was the first she’s joined since 2022 and decided to join this year because her friend invited her.

Results of the half marathon, 10K, and 5K divisions will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.