Running/Track

JAPAN RUNNERS CROSS KO’KO’ FINISH LINE FIRST

Matienzo, Mandell right behind men’s winner in half marathon

by
GSPN
April 14, 2025

PRESS RELEASE – The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) is proud to announce the successful completion of the 2025 Ko’ko’ Weekend race events held on Saturday and Sunday, April 12 & 13, 2025.

Kicking off the weekend on April 12th was the Ko’ko’ Kids Fun Run, which featured three age categories: 10-12-year-olds, 7-9-year-olds, and 4-6-year-olds. Close to 300 local and international kids turned out for the races with Guam and U.S. runners dominating the top spots. Finishing first in their age division were Maggie Lippert (Female 10-12-year-olds), Rio Reyes (Male 10-12-year-olds), Zayla Labrunda (Female 7-9-year-olds), Lenox Reyes (Male 7-9-year- olds), Selah Adzhigirey (Female 4-6-year-olds), and Noah Takagi (Male 4-6- year olds).

Following the Ko’ko’ Kids Fun Run on Saturday, the Japanese Spring Festival Harumatsui was held by the Japan Club of Guam in partnership with GVB for the Ko’ko’ Weekend. The Festival took place from 2:00-9:30pm on the grounds of Gov. Joseph Flores (Ypao) Beach Park, adding a festive feel to the weekend. Hundreds of island residents and visitors attended the festivities celebrating friendship, food, and cultural activities.

The Ko’ko’ Road Race was held on Sunday, April 13th beginning with a half marathon that yielded 519 runners, a record turnout in the history of Guam half marathons according to the Guam Running Club. 331 participants were international runners, including 119 from Korea, 50 from Japan, 15 from the Philippines, and 5 from Taiwan.

“It was really an honor and a blessing to welcome such a diverse group of athletes, many of whom traveled to Guam to participate in this event. Our primary goal is to bring awareness to the plight of our ko’ko’ and encourage sports tourism,” stated GVB President & CEO Régine Biscoe Lee, “Seeing countries come together to compete, experience the Håfa Adai spirit and forge friendships is truly what the Ko’ko’ Weekend is all about.”

The 1st place female finisher of the 2024 Ko’ko’ Half Marathon, Sachi Uozumi, returned to reclaim her title as the top female winner with a time of 1:30:42. Following close behind were 2nd place finisher Mayuko Tsuji (1:31:14), also from Japan, and 3rd place finisher Yu Xin Lin (1:33:07) from Taiwan.

In the male division, newcomer in the male 14-19 division Ryuhei Nogi of Japan came in 1st place with a time of 1:17:42, just minutes ahead of Guam runners Ryan Matienzo (1:22:07) and Derek Mandell (1:24:01), who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The return of the four-person Ekiden relay race, which featured male, female, co-ed, and high school divisions rendered 240 participants to include 47 from Japan, 25 from Korea, 12 from Taiwan, and 11 from the Philippines.

Winning first place in the all-female division was Lady ONRA (Maria Marinas, Monica Iriarte, Erin Retuyan, and Christine San Agustin) with a total time of 2:41:16. In the all-male division, team Binadu Forever (Christian Melecio, Thomas Borgonia, RK Kaminanga, and Louis Randall) took a top spot with a total time of 1:47:56. In the co-ed division, GVB Korea (Dong Su Kwak, Ji Won Ham, Soljin Park, and Myung Hie Soun) took first place with a combined time of 1:57:18. Finally, in a newly added high school division, team Miles Sportswear (Simon Sanchez High School students Shynez Alcairo, Rynier Di Ramos, Elijah Dixon, and Ivan Pamplona) claimed first place with a total time of 1:41:37.

International celebrities, journalists, running groups and social media influencers from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines participated in the weekend’s activities. World class athletes, coaches, and influencers such as top finisher Sachi Uozumi and the well-known actor and musician Shinji Takeda participated as Japan’s ambassadors for the Ko’ko’ Road Race. Influencers from Go Pro, Women Sense Magazine, Money Today and sports influencers joined popular actress and model Kang So Yeon in the delegation from South Korea. Six elite runners from the SUB3 Running Club from Taiwan participated as well as popular musician Yael Yuzon from the Philippines.

GVB extends thanks to event sponsors Pepsi Bottling Co. Guam/Gatorade, Vince Jewelers, Pomika Sales, and Micronesia Mall as well as the Office of the Governor of Guam, Mayors of Tamuning/Tumon/Harmon, Hagatna, and Asan/Maina, Department of Agriculture Division of Aquatics and Wildlife, Department of CHamoru Affairs, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Public Works, Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department, the Japan Club of Guam, and the Guam Running Club.

The next Ko’ko’ Weekend is slated for April 11 & 12, 2026. Follow Guam Ko’ko’ Road Race or VisitGuam on social media for more race information and photos.

RESULTS

Ko’ko’ Kids Fun Run

Top Female 10-12-year-olds Division (3.3k):

1. Lippert, Maggie (USA) 09:52

2. Kobayashi, Leila (Guam) 10:27

3. Abat, Elleiot (Guam) 10:28

Top Male 10-12-year-olds Division (3.3k):

1. Reyes, Rio (Guam) 08:37

2. Garcia, Sean Ivler (Guam) 08:52

3. Leon Guerrero, Dustin (Guam) 09:25

Top Female 7-9-year-olds Division (1.6k):

1. Labrunda, Zayla (USA) 05:18