By Jonathan V. Perez
Variety News Staff

(First part)

JAPAN’S Hisayoshi Tanabe and Miyo Tanabe topped the 2nd Annual Saipan Marathon in record-breaking fashion last Saturday at the American Memorial Park.
Hisayoshi and Miyo won last year’s 25th Half Marathon posting times of one hour and 23 minutes and one hour, 31 minutes and 40 seconds.
This time they tried and conquered the grueling run-around-the-island race, which started at 3:30 a.m.
The 34-year old Hisayoshi finished the course in 2:57.05 to break the 3:09.28 record set by Saipan’s Stuart Smith last year.
Miyo also shattered the women’s marathon record.
The 32-year finished in 3:23.25 to eclipse the 4:10:.9 set by Monica Yamaguchi in last year’s race.
Jack Kabriel of Saipan carried the fight for local runners coming in second to Hisayoshi, crossing the finish line in 3:21.49.
Hot on Kabriel’s heels was Tatsuo Nakamura of Japan who touched the tape in 3:22.42.
Rebecca Read finished second, 4:21.05, while Yamaguchi failed to defend her title and dropped to third with a time of 4:32.43.
Thirty seven runners joined the full marathon with one failing to finish the race. The full marathon coincided with the 26th Annual Half Marathon and 21st Annual 10K Fun Run.
The top three winners in the three running events received cash prizes and trophies, while winners in different age groups were given medals.
The event is organized in cooperation with the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Northern Marianas Athletics.
NMA vice president Lou Wabol congratulated the runners from Japan, Korea, Tinian and Guam who participated in the races and asked them to tell the organizers how to improve them for next year.