Sub-2:30:00 for men, sub-2:45:00 for women needed to earn a piece of the prize; second edition set for Sunday, September 5
The 2010 Kauai Marathon, set for Sunday, September 5 in Poipu Kauai, Hawaii is enticing runners from around the world to compete for the first ever $15,000 Kauai Marathon Challenge. This new feature is one of the largest "Speed Challenge" purses offered in a U.S. running event.
Numerous American and international athletes will be competing for the prize and they are led by two-time Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Michael Wardian. The Arlington, Virginia resident won the bronze medal at the 2009 World 50K Championships. Wardian, 36, has competed in more than 100 marathons, as well as a number of ultra marathons and triathlons around the world. In March 2010, he won the SunTrust National Marathon in Washington, DC in 2 hours, 21 minutes, 58 seconds.
Hailing from the Duma Runner's Club in Minnesota are two Challenge contenders Richard Kandie and Moninda Marube of Kenya, both elite runners that have been competing in marathons around the country for the past 3 years. Most notably, Kandie placed second at the Bayshore Half Marathon last May in 1 hour, 6 minutes, 1 second, while Marube won the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon on May 1.
Other contenders include: JT Service, winner of the inaugural Kauai Marathon; Japeth Ng'Joy from Kenya making his marathon debut and Masanori Hagitani, winner of the Iwaki City Sunshine Marathon in Japan.
All Kauai Marathon participants that are officially registered in the marathon are eligible for the $15,000 Kauai Marathon Challenge. Time standards eligible for the Kauai Marathon Challenge are a sub-2:30:00 for men and a sub-2:45:00 for women.
The first participant of each sex under the set time standards will be awarded with a $2500 bonus. In addition, ALL runners (male and female combined) under the standard receive an equal amount of the remaining speed challenge prize money. For example, if both the male and female standard is eclipsed by the top finisher of each sex then all of the participants under the set standards split a portion of $10,000. The top available prize is $15,000 if only one athlete of either gender reaches the standard.
On Saturday morning, marathon co-hosts ultra superstar Dean Karnazes (left) and Runner's World's Bart Yasso will lead an informal 3-5 mile pre-race fun run for registered runners and non-registered local residents to soak in the marathon spirit.
The second edition offers certified USATF and AIMS marathon and half-marathon courses. For more information, go to: www.thekauaimarathon.com.
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
