Photo from tylermccandless.com
The 2012 Kauai Marathon – slated for Sunday, September 2 – features one of the most hotly contested elite fields in the history of the event. A strong contingent of U.S. athletes, both male and female, have committed to race for the Grand Hyatt Kauai $15,000 Speed Challenge. The financial incentive will be split by any male runner finishing under 2:23:19 (current course record) and any female runner under 2:45. The 2011 winner Tyler McCandless, 26, from Boulder, Colorado returns to defend his title and will attempt to break his own course record. Jeffrey Eggleston, 27 of Flagstaff, Arizona, will challenge McCandless. Eggleston boasts a personal best of 2:13:12 and has numerous top finishes including a victory at the Woodlands Marathon earlier this year.
On the women’s side Devon Crosby-Helms, 30, of San Francisco will attempt to be the first female runner to capture a portion of the Grand Hyatt Kauai $15,000 Speed Challenge. Crosby-Helms won the prestigious San Francisco Marathon on July 29 in 2:44:02. Her marathon personal best is 2:38:55, but has experienced most of her success at the ultra distances with victories at the JFK 50 Miler, the USA 50 Mile Championships and the USA 100K Championships. Another strong competitor on the female side is Brett Ely, 34, of Natick, Massachusetts. Ely has a similar marathon personal best of 2:38:53 and was named the 2011 USATF – New England Runner-of-the-Year.
The 4th Kauai Marathon is going to be held on Sunday, September 2 beginning at 6:00am. The marathon and half-marathon events begin on Poipu Road in front of the Poipu Shopping Village. The first 11 miles are run together before the half-marathoners veer off into Kukui’ula Resort to their oceanfront finish while the marathoners head up Koloa Road to the neighborhoods of Lawai and Kalaheo before heading back down to Poipu. The marathon finisher’s party and awards ceremony is located on the ocean front lawn at The Sheraton Kauai Resort beginning at 8:00am. Race participants as well as supporters can enjoy food, refreshments and live entertainment until the early afternoon.
The online registration deadline for this world-renowned event is fast approaching, ending on August 29, 2012 at 11:59 Pacific Standard Time. Race packets, bibs and participant bags must be picked up at the Sports and Fitness Expo at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa on Friday, August 31, 2012 or Saturday, September 1, 2012.
For more information, or to register for this spectacular event, visit: www.thekauaimarathon.com
August 31, 2012 by Running USA
Regional News