Guam International Marathon shatters records

TUMON, Guam – The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB), along with Pacific Islands Club Guam and United Airlines, hosted the 2014 Guam International Marathon (GIM) yesterday, welcoming runners from around the region and shattering its previous participation, making the 2014 GIM the largest international road race to take place in Guam. Nearly 3,000 runners from Guam, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, United States and Palau took part in the event.

Koki Kawauchi from Japan beat the course record in the men’s division winning the marathon with a time of 2:38:06 and Eunhee Yoon from South Korea won the female division in 3:04:43. Hideyuki Ikegami from Japan won the male half marathon in 1:09:28 and Megumi Sugawara from Japan took the female half marathon in 1:37:24. Kaoru Yamazaki from Japan took the male 10K in 33:57 and Saori Kawai from Japan won the female 10K in 38:41. Jinsu Song from South Korea won the male 5K in 17:48 and Amy Atkinson from Oregon, USA won the female 5K in 21:47.

“The Guam International Marathon is a signature sports tourism event and brings in economic incentives for our island community,” said Karl Pangelinan, Guam Visitors Bureau General Manager. “By hosting this event, an estimated $6.7 million in spending is infused into our economy by international participants, their families and friends. This spending represents overseas money Guam has captured because of this event.”

Nearly 660 runners took part in the marathon, about 670 in the half marathon, 689 in the 10K and over 930 runners in the 5K. Guam International Marathon proceeds benefit the Tourism Education Council and the Island-wide Beautification Task Force.

“On behalf of the Guam International Marathon, we congratulate and thank our participants, volunteers, media partners, supporters and sponsors of GIM. We’re extremely pleased with this year’s record turnout and we encourage everyone to join us again for the 2015 Guam International Marathon on April 12, 2015,” said GIM Race Director, Ben Ferguson.

The Guam International Marathon is also sponsored by ASC Trust Corporation, Bank of Guam, DFS Galleria, Docomo Pacific, Powerade, Nanbo Insurance, Tokio Marine Pacific, SPPC 76 and Circle K, Luckland, TakeCare, Taico and the stations of KUAM.

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