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 |
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Matsuno’s second place finish earned him an invitation to compete in the FCG Junior Golf Championship to be held in July 2025.
A junior at St. John’s, he is also currently leading the IIAAG high school All-Island golf competition, chasing the coveted individual high school golf title.
