{"id":406743,"date":"2024-03-11T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=406743"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Kaneyama-Lee-fastest-in-Saipan-Marathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Kaneyama-Lee-fastest-in-Saipan-Marathon\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaneyama, Lee fastest in Saipan Marathon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Japan\u2019s Yuki Kaneyama was the fastest overall runner, while the U.S. Navy\u2019s Hana Lee outran every woman in the return of the full marathon course of the Saipan Marathon.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Ni Yusheng at 2:57:53.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s very own An Bang at 4:23:40.<\/p>\n

Kaneyama and Lee won a roundtrip airline ticket from either Japan or Saipan to anywhere in Micronesia from United Airlines.<\/p>\n

In the men\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

In the women\u2019s age division rankings, Ahran Kim was first in the women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2014as if he didn\u2019t just run a marathon that morning, and said he definitely would want to return to Saipan. However, he\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

She said she didn\u2019t 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\u2019s joined. As for the course, she said it was \u201cpretty hilly, but I expected it, so I wasn\u2019t surprised by it.\u201d This marathon was the first she\u2019s joined since 2022 and decided to join this year because her friend invited her.<\/p>\n

Results of the half marathon, 10K, and 5K divisions will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

U.S. Navy’s Hana Lee based in Guam is the first woman to finish the new 26.2-mile\/42.195-kilometer full marathon course of the Skechers Saipan Marathon 2024 that 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 last Saturday.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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<\/p>\n

Japan’s Yuki Kaneyama is the first overall to finish the new 26.2-mile\/42.195-kilometerfull marathon course of the Skechers Saipan Marathon 2024 that 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 last Saturday.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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<\/p>\n

Women age group winners of the\u00a026.2-mile\/42.195-kilometer full marathon course of the Skechers Saipan Marathon 2024 that 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 last Saturday. Third from left, Chun Jae Geum; Rosemarie Chisato, fourth from left; and Malou Carlos, third from right; pose with their prizes during the awards banquet last Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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<\/p>\n

Men age group winners pose for a photo with their prizes during the awards banquet last Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. They trekked the\u00a026.2-mile\/42.195-kilometer full marathon course of the Skechers Saipan Marathon 2024 that 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 last Saturday.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Women age group winners, Angela Taflinger, third from left, and Ahran Kim, fourth from left, pose for a photo with their prizes during the awards banquet last Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Top 3 in the women’s division of the new\u00a026.2-mile\/42.195-kilometer full marathon course of the Skechers Saipan Marathon 2024 that 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 last Saturday. Third from right, third place An Bang, first place Hana Lee, and second place Aspen Egbert pose with their prizes, along with Marianas Visitors Authority, United Airlines, and Skechers representatives last Saturday night at the awards banquet at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Top 3 in the men’s division of the new\u00a026.2-mile\/42.195-kilometer full marathon course of the Skechers Saipan Marathon 2024 that 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 last Saturday. Fifth from left, second place Shohei Miyamoto, first place Yuki Kaneyama, and third place Ni Yusheng pose with their prizes, along with Marianas Visitors Authority, United Airlines, and Skechers representatives last Saturday night at the awards banquet at the Hyatt Regency Saipan.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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