By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

THE Saipan Marathon returns for its second staging on Jan. 20 with off-island participants expected to dispute the title with local runners.
The annual marathon will take place at American Memorial Park and will coincide with the 26th Annual Half Marathon and 21st 10-Kilometer Fun Run.
The event is organized in cooperation with the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Northern Marianas Athletics.
The MVA and NMA said they are excited about doing it again this year and they will start looking for sponsors for the annual event, which also aims to attract runners from Japan, Korea and other places.
Last year, 41 runners braved the exhausting 26.2-mile inaugural Saipan Marathon with Stuart Smith and Monica Yamaguchi topping the event.
Smith, who has run in more than 10 full marathons, ruled the race with a time of three hours, nine minutes and 28 seconds with Yamaguchi finishing with a time of 4:10.19.
The top three placers in the half marathon men’s division were Hisayoshi Tanabe, 1:23.00; Hitoshi Hoshi, 1:25.00; and Takashi Terada, 1:28.10. Miyo Tanabe, 1:31.40, ruled the women’s division, followed by Sayuri Yuyana, 1:39.53; and Kiyomo Kodama, 1:40.18.
The 10K top three winners in men’s division were Akihisa Otani, 43:14 seconds;, Steve Pixley, 44:36; and Yong Gon Kim, 45:40.
Micronesian Athletics Championship gold medalist Noriko Jim ruled the women’s 10K with a time of 47.01, followed by Bo Wang, 51.51; and Rachel Bandelin, 52.56.
The top three winners in the three running events received cash prizes and trophies, while winners in different age groups were given medals.