Posted: September 22, 2005

Athletics: Rotich, Kusutani Win Maui Marathon

By Patrice Malloy

KAANAPALI, Maui, Hawaii - (Sept. 18, 2005) - It is now two for two for Jacob Rotich, the bespectacled Kenyan whose competitive consistency and winning smile have fast become a familiar and welcome sight at the Maui Marathon.

At the 35th edition on Sunday, Rotich, 28, of Kenya won his second Maui title in as many years and as many marathon starts. The Austin, Texas-based systems administrator, who holds an MBA, finished in 2 hours, 27 minutes and 58 seconds - 16 seconds faster than his 2004 race.

Sayuri "Lily" Kusutani, 46, of Japan dominated the women's division, winning in 2:55:01. It was her first marathon victory in 20 starts and her first Maui Marathon.

In the men's race, a trio consisting of Rotich, Kevin Collins of Syracuse, N.Y. and Katushi Fuchiwaki of Japan ran together for the first 15 miles before Rotich and Collins started to surge, eventually dropping Fuchiwaki on the oceanfront course.

Collins, 34, who was beginning to feel the effects of the rising tropical sun and late-stage marathon fatigue, dropped off pace at the 19-mile mark, slowed to a walk with only 3 miles to go and then dropped out of the race completely. Fuchiwaki held his 5:43 pace and finished in 2:29:56. Matt Holden, last year's Maui Half Marathon champion and Maui resident, made a last-minute decision to enter the full marathon and placed 3rd in 2:48:29.

"It was nice to run with the experienced marathoners," said Rotich. "We shared the pace."

Kusutani, the women's champion, was never seriously challenged and ran with a couple of male competitors who helped her stay on pace.

"This was the best marathon for me," said Kusutani. "The wind was at my back and it was fun to win."

A graduate student living in Honolulu, Kusutani has a marathon PR of 2:40:05, which she set at the 2000 Berlin Marathon. Yoko Yamazawa of Japan placed second in 3:06:41 and Miyuki Kaneko, also of Japan, finished third (3:11:58). Last year's champion, Jeannie Wokasch-Young, placed fifth in 3:17:38.

The second Maui Half Marathon was won by Roger Bush of Indianapolis, Ind., in 1:14:49 and Kelly Bassett of Tempe, Ariz. in 1:23:30.

Recognized as one of the most scenic marathons in the world, the point-to-point Maui Marathon course starts in Kahului and runs along the picturesque Pacific Ocean and through the historic whaling village of Lahaina before finishing in Whalers Village in Kaanapali. Over 3,200 runners from 14 countries and 48 states participated in this year's marathon and half-marathon.

35th Maui Marathon - Kaanapali, Maui, HI, Sunday, September 18, 2005

MEN
1) Jacob Rotich, Kenya, 2:27:58, $1500
2) Katushi Fuchiwaki, Japan, 2:29:56, $750
3) Matthew Holton, Kula, HI, 2:48:29, $1250*
*Includes $750 1st Maui resident prize

WOMEN
1) Sayuri Kusutani, Japan, 2:55:01, $2250*
2) Yoko Yamazawa, Japan, 3:06:41, $750 
3) Miyuki Kaneko, Japan, 3:11:58, $500
*Includes first masters women $750 prize

Complete race results at: MauiMarathon.com.

Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Services Director
385 Oak View Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 696-6232, fax (805) 967-5958
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.runningusa.org.