Former marathon world record holder, Patrick Makau, and the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in 5000meters, Isabella Ochichi are going to be chasing down Team Hawaii in the Chase.
The two Kenyans are joined by their countryman, Erick Kibet Kogo and Royatoro Otani from Japan as the stellar team of professionals tasked with taking down the 24 best runners in Hawaii.
Makau has a half marathon PR of 58:52 and is the current Fukuoka Marathon champion. Both he and Isabella Ochichi have experience on the Hapalua course.
Team Hawaii is made up of 12 men and 12 women who are given incremental head starts on the professionals. The handicaps are based on their recent racing performance. The first group from Team Hawaii start at 5:37, a full 23 minutes before Makau and Kibet start their half marathon. Thereafter, the groups set of with head starts of 20, 17, 13, 9 and 6 minutes. Ochichi, as the only female chaser, also sets of at 5:54am, 6 minutes ahead of Patrick Makau.
The athletes hoping to reclaim the crown for Hawaii are from the Big Island, Maui and Ohau. At the 2015 Hapalua, Peter Kirui won the $5,000 prize money in a time of 1:04:08, the fastest ever half marathon race run in Hawaii!
Prize Purse
An $11,000 prize purse is up for grabs. The first person across the finish line will receive $5,000. Second will get $2,500, third, $1,000, fourth, $750, fifth, $500, sixth, $400, seventh, $300, eighth, $250, ninth, $200, and 10th, $100
First across the line is the winner!
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