By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE 2026 Skechers Saipan Marathon concluded Saturday, transforming the scenic roads of Garapan into a high-octane arena for hundreds of runners from across the globe. Despite heavy rain, the event showcased a blend of international dominance and rising local talent across four distances — the full marathon, half marathon, 10K, and 5K.
The Nakajima era continues
In the premier 42km event, Japan’s Hiroki Nakajima proved once again why he is the man to beat. Nakajima crossed the finish line with a commanding time of 2:45:53 to secure the overall victory. He was followed by Hiroki Kai, who claimed the runner-up spot in 2:55:07, while Taekwon Kim finished third in 2:59:31.
The Nakajima family’s trophy cabinet grew even larger as his wife, Tomomi Nakajima, dominated the Women’s Division once again. Finishing with a time of 3:17:16, she not only won her category but placed an impressive seventh overall among the entire field, reinforcing her status as one of the region’s elite distance athletes.
Ishikawa Emari finished second in 3:49:27, followed by Jung Yejin in third with a time of 3:50:38.
Half marathon
The 21km race saw a powerful performance from Shohei Miyamoto. Blasting through the course in 1:19:14, Miyamoto was the only runner to break the 80-minute barrier.
Ireland’s Jody O’Sullivan finished second in 1:29:38, while Kim Dong-Hwan rounded out the podium in 1:34:36.
In the Women’s Division, Lily Muldoon delivered a standout performance. She ran among the elite pack and finished with a time of 1:34:39, earning the gold and placing fourth overall in the combined standings — a testament to the increasing depth of the female field in Saipan.
Kim Bo-Eun finished second in 1:47:17, while Kristy Bryson placed third in 1:49:03.
Muldoon’s reflection
For Lily Muldoon, a 41-year-old doctor, the goal was simple: test her limits. What she did not expect was to find a coach, a teammate, and a DJ in Kim Dong-Hwan, a runner from South Korea she met just moments before the starting gun.
As the pack thinned along the coast, the duo fell into a rhythmic stride.
“He practiced English with me, he taught me some Korean, and at one point we were even running to K-pop playing from his phone,” Muldoon recalled.
The true test came after the turnaround, when the notorious Garapan headwind threatened to derail Muldoon’s pace. In a display of sportsmanship, Kim noticed her fading and moved into the lead.
“Lily, come behind,” he urged, shielding her from the wind.
When she offered to swap leads, Kim shook his head.
“No, I feel good. We will finish together. Goal time!”
The teamwork paid off. Muldoon crossed the line in 1:34:39, shaving a full minute off her 2022 winning time and securing the women’s half marathon title. Kim followed closely in 1:34:36, taking third overall in the men’s division.
The Muldoon-Kim story reflected the energy pulsing through Saipan this year. The starting line was a tapestry of cultures, with athletes representing Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Russia, and the CNMI.
“The international participation, the volunteers, and the crowds around Crowne Plaza made it one of the most special races I’ve experienced,” Muldoon said.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
