New Record for Savai'i Marathon

Women Champions - Aleka Freijah 10km and Ariane Stevenson the Half Marathon winner

Kuni sets new record for Savaii Marathon
 
Kuniyoshi Watanabe 26, of Japan set a new record for the ANZ Savaii Marathon at Saleologa on Saturday. He ran a superb race to finish 3:27:57 and in the process set a new record. He was almost an hour faster than the previous record set by Bobby Carney (4:24:56) in the inaugural race last year. 

Kuni, as he likes to be called, was one of four Japanese runners in the full marathon. The other three – Hiromi Nagae, Noriyuki Arai and Hiroshi Miyazaki – all managed to complete the full marathon in trying conditions.

It was hot. Once the sun came up, there was no escaping the relentless sun rays.

Whilst all of the marathon runners crossed the finish line, there were two casualties of the heat. Two runners pulled out, one out of heat exhaustion.

Marathon Runners - Hiromi Nagae, Kuniyoshi Watanabe, Noriyuki Arai and 
​66yr old Hiroshi Miyazaki, all of Japan with their Marathon medals

It was another fantastic event well supported by the leading sponsors of the race, ANZ and Samoa Stationery and Books (S.S.A.B).

In the Half Marathon, Tueffy Tuigamala set a new record in 1hr 33mins. Ariane Stevenson was the first woman home in that race.

In the 10km race it was Tini Lapaialii who also set a new record at 39 minutes for the 10km run from Fogapoa to the finish at ANZ and S.S.A.B. Salelologa. Aleka Freijah was the first woman home in that race.

Records for the 5km and 3km races were won by Savaiians, same as last year. ​