Jimmy Muindi Wins His Record 5th Honolulu Marathon
By David Monti
(c) 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

HONOLULU (11-Dec-2005) -- Jimmy Muindi handily defeated all of his rivals today at the 33rd Honolulu but one: the clock.

Running here for the 12th time, the 32 year-old Kenyan extended his winning streak to three years and won the world's largest tropical marathon for a record fifth time, crossing the finish line more than three minutes ahead of the next runner.  And although his time of 2:12:00 was the fourth fastest in the history of the race, Muindi fell 48 seconds short of his primary goal of breaking his own course record and picking up an additional $10,000 bonus.

"My goal was to attempt to get the course record," said Muindi who ended up running the entire second half alone in front of more than 28,000 official entrants.  "It was very hard for me in the last four kilometers."

The early pace was a little slow for Muindi's liking, going through the flat 10 km section along Waikiki Beach in 30:55, about a 2:10:30 pace.  Pacemaker Wilberforce Talel seemed to be following Muindi's lead, more than actually pushing the pace.  Muindi ran to Talel's left, doing just as much work at the front of a pack of eight.

After the ascent of Diamond Head Avenue in the 8th mile, Muindi gently pressed the pace, clicking off three of the next four miles in under five minutes.  Between 12 miles and the half-way mark (1:05:31), Muindi eased away from the pack and opened up a 20m lead.  Eric Nzioki and David Mutua tried to form a chase, but 40 year-old Mbarak Hussein --a three-time winner here-- knew it was best to simply let Muindi go.  The strength of his move had surprised him.

"These guys are going to pay," Hussein told himself as he watched the others try to go after Muindi.  He quickly changed his own game plan.  "I thought I needed to run my own race."

Running alone in the darkness and soaking humidity, Muindi did his best to hold his pace, but in the final climb up Diamond Head in the 24th mile, he slowed to a 5:17 pace, and the record was gone.  He explained later that although he was feeling good, he wasn't sure where he stood on the pace because the clock on the lead vehicle directly in front of him wasn't working.

"I was kind of disappointed with the clock on the car," he said looking down for a moment.  He then brightened as his daughter Stella, who turned 11 today, grabbed his hand.  "All the same I'm happy."

Behind Muindi, Hussein's decision to hold back turned out to be a wise one.  He was able to pass four other athletes on his way to second place in 2:15:06.  Nzioki, his stride labored and a bit wobbly, held on for third in 2:16:24.  It would take nearly seven more minutes before another athlete finished: Solomon Wachira of Kenya in 2:23:23.  Mutua, who later complained of pain in his left calf, faded to 10th in 2:33:22.

Two of the race's top contenders, Kenyan Joseph Riri and South African Josiah Thugwane, did not make it to the finish line.  It was the second consecutive marathon DNF for Thugwane, the 1996 Olympic Marathon gold medalist.

NURGAILEVA GETS FIRST HONOLULU WIN

Olesya Nurgalieva, the sturdy red haired Russian who finished second at two top ultramarathons earlier this year in South Africa, overwhelmed the women's field here today, winning her second career marathon and her first in the United States.

Nurgalieva ran with the pack --which included her twin sister Elena-- for the first five kilometers.  But by the halfway point, Nurgalieva and pacemaker Tatiana Chulakh were alone (1:15:11), and the 2004 Frankfurt Marathon champion cruised home to an easy win.  She was actually the eighth athlete to cross the finish line.

"I can't believe I won!" she exclaimed to reporters through an interpreter sitting in the press tent after the race.  "I never thought I would win."

Her victory was all the more remarkable because it came just five weeks after she set a career best time at the ING New York City Marathon (2:29:35).  She said that despite that effort, she was well-prepared for today's race.

"We took a great rest and all the conditions were such that we could run well here," she said.

Emerging from the battle behind Nurgaileva to take second place was Eri Hayakawa of Japan, the 2003 Honolulu Marathon champion who was also second here last year.  She had been sick for several days before the race, running a slight fever.  Although it hurt her chances today for victory, it forced her to run at a more moderate pace, which worked to her advantage.  She was only in fifth place as the race moved to the turnaround point in the 16th mile, but she moved past Russians Elena Nurgalieva, Alevtina Ivanova and defending champion Lyubov Morgunova to cross the finish line in 2:32:59.  Ivanova finished third in 2:38:17 followed by Elena Nurgalieva (2:38:50) and Morgunova (2:40:47).

The only bad news today for Olesya Nurgalieva was that she did not get the honor of breaking the finish tape.  A man running slightly ahead of her in the finish straight, Junichi Kawabata of Japan, did not move to the side as the tape was stretched across the center of the finish for Nurgalieva.  He broke the tape instead, one second ahead of the Russian.

Nurgalieva didn't seem to mind, however, and she said she would stay in Honolulu for a few more days and do some shopping with her $20,000 in prize and bonus money.

"I will buy a nice dress," she said.

Results:

MEN -

 1. Jimmy Muindi, KEN, 2:12:00

 2. Mbarak Hussein (40), USA, 2:15:06

 3. Eric Nzioki, KEN, 2:16:24

 4. Solomon Wachira, KEN, 2:23:23

 5. Nobuhiko Chiba, JPN, 2:27:32

WOMEM -

 1. Olesya Nurgalieva, RUS, 2:30:24

 2. Eri Hayakawa, JPN, 2:32:59

 3. Alevtina Ivanova, RUS, 2:38:17

 4. Elena Nurgalieva, RUS, 2:38:50

 5. Lyubov Morgunova, RUS, 2:40:47

 6. Ogawa Mina, JPN, 2:41:27

Save on Running Shoes

Cross Country Spikes 10% off

Train Smarter!!!

Injured?