Event organizer Brad Ruszala said in yesterday’s Rotary Club meeting at the Hyatt Regency that the Powerade Banzai Memorial Off-Road Half Marathon & Fun Run has been getting international attention since it started in 2006.
“This is one way of promoting Saipan to the rest of the world, and we had been getting a lot of support from generous sponsors,” he said.
He said that among the sponsors who committed to support the marathon are the Transpac Group who will donate Powerade, Foremost Crystal Clear bottled water, Subway sandwiches, Scoops ice cream, Powerade tattoos, and event T-shirts for the race.
This year’s entry fee is $15. The races will start and finish at the Banzai Cliff. Ruszala said that interested participants may contact him or register on site as early as 5:30 a.m. The half marathon will at 6:00 a.m while the fun run starts at 7 a.m.
This year’s defending champions are Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel and Mamiko Oshima-Berger.
Ronald Villafria finished second last year with his time of 1:41: 55 and Yosh Gabaldon was third after posting 1:44:27.
Matt Mancao, Nate Mateo and Fred Camacho were last year’s top 3 winners in the fun run, while Mieko Carey, Melody Matson and Kathy Pagapular won the top three places in the women’s short course fun run.
The Whitmore project
Ruszala said that all proceeds from the event will go to help Whitmore come back here either as a participant or as a guest for the 2010 edition of the Crown Jewel and the Tagaman Triathlon.
He said that Guam is also doing a couple of races to raise funds for Whitmore’s return.
“We welcome all the help we can get for the event,” he said.
Whitmore had been diagnosed with cancer. She went from being a professional triathlete to fighting cancer over the last year and a half and has undergone multiple surgeries.
Ruszala said that Whitmore is also pregnant with twins and due in January or early February next year.
“Whitmore’s recovery and her coming back to participate in next year’s triathlon will provide a positive image for the CNMI, and encourage more people from other countries to join in the future events,” he said.
