A Chase. That's the alias given to the Kalakaua Merrie Mile because of the unique race format they contested it under. However that name doesn't do the result justice; when recapping the race there is only one word that comes to mind: dominant.
That is because even with a 27 second handicap Edwin Kiptoo (M) asserted a bold race strategy that immediately took the field by surprise. Straight from the gun, Edwin took the lead and formed a ten meter gap by the 200 meter mark. By the halfway point-where athletes rounded a corner to return the way they came-Kiptoo had already caught the Women, and from there he dropped them as well.
When asked about the race Kiptoo said, "My plan was to catch them by the turning point."
This was the 18 year old's first time out of his native country of Kenya and it was quote, "A dream come true." Kiptoo's training has been nothing short of astonishing. Despite coming into the race as an Underdog because of his age, and without a seed time, he ran 3:55 for the full mile at altitude just recently. Not only that but he also ran 8:03 for the 3k at an elevation of 7,000 feet so his performance was all reflective of the hard training he had put in before the race. In fact when taking into account his past accomplishments so far, plus the 3:38 1500 mark he set in April, he doesn't entirely seem like an underdog anymore. Edwin still being only a junior, shows the future Kenya has to offer the world circuit as he already proved he can contend with international competition.
Kiptoo's bold effort resulted in a six second gap over the second runner to cross the line where he ran 3:57 (a Hawaii state record) for gold ahead of Nicole Sifuentes (F) (the first female finisher who ran 4:03, converted to 4:29 with the 27 second head start.) Sifuentes put into effect a similar strategy, however through the first quarter mile she only maintained a lead large enough to keep herself in first place. By the halfway mark she had gaped the other women by nearly ten meters and her lead kept growing. Recent University of Michigan graduate and professional Saucony runner Shannon Osika (F) eventually gained on Sifuentes and finished right behind her in a sprint finish to clinch the same time of 4:03 (4:29.)
Behind them, Canadian miler Nate Brannen (M) finished third overall in 4:09, out kicking Dominique Scott-Efurd (F)-the third overall women in 4:09 (4:36.) Mason Ferlic (M) was sixth overall and the third male in 4:10 while Hamish Carson (M) finished right behind him with the same time. Will Leer (M) faded slightly back as he finished eighth in 4:16 just ahead of his wife Aisha Praught (F), ninth in 4:24 (4:51.) Finally, Erin Finn (F) finished tenth in 4:26 (4:53.)
Pictures from the race can be found here.
Pre Race Press Conference Between THP and Maui Runner:
Post Race Press Conference Between THP and Maui Runner:
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