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Rotich Hopes to Three-Peat
KAANAPALI, Maui, HI (September 11, 2006) − Jacob Rotich must love the Maui Marathon. Not only has he won the race in the past two years, it is the only marathon he has ever run.
Both defending champions will return to the Maui Marathon's oceanfront course on Sunday, September 17, 2006, announced race officials.
“My goal is to lower my time from the previous two years,” said Rotich, a Kenyan now living in Austin, Texas.
Rotich clocked two hours, 28 minutes and 14 seconds in 2004 and 2:27:58 last year on the scenic but challenging course. “I am hoping that I will have someone to run with during the race to push me,” said Rotich.
“If Jacob wins next Sunday, it will be the first time in recorded history that anyone has won three consecutive Maui Marathons,” said Bob Craver, the Maui Marathon and Maui Half Marathon race director.
Sayuri Kusutani, last year's women's champion, also hopes to repeat a victory. Kusutani, a Japanese graduate student living in Honolulu, finished last year's race in 2:55:01.
The 2006 Maui Marathon has a $10,700 prize purse with $1,500 to be awarded to first place male and female.
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 at Whalers Village in Kaanapali. Over 3,200 runners from 14 countries and 48 states are expected to participate in this year's marathon and half marathon.
For more information, please visit www.mauimarathon.com.
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