GSPN

JAPAN RUNNERS SET NEW KO’KO’S COURSE RECORD

The 2017 Koko Road Race Half Marathon, 10k and 5k debuted it’s new starting and finishing point in the Island’s Capital Hagatna early Sunday morning. Stealing the show were visiting runners from Japan who set new course records in both the male and female divisions.

by
GSPN
October 29, 2017

By Robert Balajadia

The 2017 Ko’ko’ Road Race Half Marathon, 10k and 5k debuted it’s new starting and finishing point in the island’s capital ofHagatna early Sunday morning. Stealing the show were visiting runners from Japan who set new course records in both the male and female divisions.

Japan’s Shota Fujimura clocked in a speedy 1:11:40 to earn the first place nod while fellow countryman Taisuke Ueda came in close behind at 1:12:54. The first local finisher was Ryan Matienzo, who came in 5th place at 1:18:44.

Matienzo didn’t reach his goal and a lot gave credit to the speedy Japan runners for their performance.

“Mentally I came in 110%, but my body wasn’t at the same level. I tried to keep up with the Japan runners, but eventually I had to slow up and go at my own pace. I just couldn’t catch it; there was something really missing from me out there and maybe it was the training and I was too excited,” said Matienzo.

Matienzo also said that the heat was bearing down on the run even though the course featured a flatter, more straight forward style.

“It was flat, but it still wasn’t easy. The headwind on the way back was tough. And that heat, oh my gosh. I was hoping that it was going to rain to cool us off,” laughed Matienzo.

First female finisher Toshika Yoshikawa blazed through the course, finishing 1:27:24. Guam’s fast females rounded out the top three as Laura Nadeau finished 1:34:13 and Kristina Ingvarsson clocked in at 1:42:18.

Check out the Top 5 finishers in each category below!

Guam’s first finisher Ryan Matienzo took up a spot in the Half Marathon’s Top 5 finishers.

HALF MARATHON Male

Rank	Time	Bib	Name
1st	1:11:40	63	SHOTA FUJIMURA
2nd	1:12:54	1	TAISUKE UEDA
3rd	1:17:06	67	IKURU MANASE
4th	1:18:13	33	Tomoya Tabuchi
5th	1:18:44	5	Ryan Matienzo

HALF MARATHON Female

Rank	Time	Bib	Name
1st	1:27:24	31	Toshiko Yoshikawa
2nd	1:34:13	9	Laura Nadeau
3rd	1:42:18	10	Kristina Ingvarsson
4th	1:46:03	587	Yumika Sugahara
5th	1:46:52	118	MIYUKI ATSUTA

10K Male

Rank	Time	Bib	Name
1st	35:39	1006	HISAO SEKIGUCHI
2nd	40:44	1318	Derek Mandell
3rd	44:30	1001	KEIICHI UEDA
4th	44:38	1217	HAKSIK GO
5th	45:36	1045	Tyler Atoigue

10K Female

Rank	Time	Bib	Name
1st	41:42	1249	Sunok Hwang
2nd	43:46	1233	Yumiko Hansen
3rd	46:32	1588	Kate Guerrero
4th	48:54	1513	Aya Vessels
5th	49:07	1241	Meghan Hickey

5K Male

Rank	Time	Bib	Name
1st	17:28	2625	Isaac Ventura
2nd	17:44	2013	Kenta Togashi
3rd	18:18	2338	Joshua Ilustre
4th	18:30	2120	Justin Berroya
5th	19:39	2194	Zachary Criss

5K Female

Rank	Time	Bib	Name
1st	20:55	2195	Genina Criss
2nd	24:15	2386	Caroline Castillo
3rd	24:17	2623	Rowena Vega-Castro
4th	24:38	2667	AIRI INOUE
5th	24:38	2595	Chasity Tenorio