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Chinese making
marathon trip
to Hawaii

Honolulu Marathon marks
debut of CAA runners in
non-Olympic U.S. race

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

The Chinese Athletic Association will send four of its best marathoners to the Honolulu Marathon.

The Dec. 14 race will be the first for CAA marathoners in an independently operated American race. CAA runners have competed in Olympic competition in the U.S.

"It's taken a certain amount of time to get things rolling and I think things are starting to move now," said Mark Wetmore, a Boston lawyer who represents the CAA athletes.

"Honolulu is important to the Chinese because it's the first time they're coming to the U.S. and they want to perform in such a way that they establish credibility for future races," Wetmore added. "I'm glad Jim (Honolulu Marathon Association president Jim Barahal) and Jon (association race director Jon Cross) are taking advantage of this. We talked about it a few months ago and they said that they wanted to have good Chinese runners, if it was possible."

The men's field will feature Hu Ganjun, who won China's national championship at the Beijing Marathon in a Chinese record of 2:09:18.

Hu will be joined in the Honolulu race by Hao Lijun, China's national runner-up (2:13:25).

Kenya's Eric Kimaiyo is the defending Honolulu Marathon champion. Kimaiyo has run the second fastest marathon in the world this year (2:07:43).

On the women's side, Pan Jinhong won China's national championships in 2:26:39, eighth fastest among female marathoners this year. Also this year, she won the Hong Kong Marathon in warm, humid conditions. That should work in her favor in Honolulu.

Pan will be joined by Tian Mei, who was fourth at Beijing in 2:28:15.

All four are from inner Mongolia. The Honolulu Marathon had hoped to get women's national runner-up Wang Jianfen, but Wetmore said Wang is committed to run in the Tokyo Marathon in November.

Wetmore also represents 3,000- and 10,000-meter world record-holder Wang Junxia, who will run her first road race outside China Dec. 13 in the Nike P.L.A.Y. Waikiki Mile on Kalakaua Ave.

Wetmore, who will leave for China Thursday for the national track and field championships, said he hopes to find spots for Chinese runners in the 102nd Boston Marathon in April and on the European indoor and outdoor track circuits.