Elkanah Odembo, Kenya’s ambassador to the U.S., stood on the court at St. Andrew’s Priory’s James C. Castle Gymnasium and gave the assembled students a perspective of the talent flanking him.
"You are seeing the best in the world," Odembo told the students. "The absolute best in the world."
Odembo’s proclamation was rooted in more than just national pride. To his left stood countryman Jimmy Muindi, a six-time winner of the Honolulu Marathon. To his right, Wilson Kipsang, the man currently regarded as the world’s top marathon runner.
It is Kipsang’s presence in Hawaii this week that has put Muindi’s course record in jeopardy and added considerable star power to the Honolulu Marathon’s 40th anniversary.
"I think we’ve had No. 1 marathoners in the world here before, but that was before other people knew they were No. 1," Honolulu Marathon president Dr. Jim Barahal said. "To have someone who’s acknowledged to be, if not No. 1 then certainly in the debate, that’s a big thing."
When Hurricane Sandy forced the cancellation of the ING New York Marathon a little more than a month ago, Honolulu became an attractive destination for Kipsang to close out a year highlighted by a victory in the London Marathon and a bronze medal in the Olympic marathon.
"My training was very good so I wanted to compete," said Kipsang, who was considered the favorite to win in New York. "So I think it’s a good chance and a good opportunity for me to compete. It’s also an opportunity to travel to Hawaii for the first time."
Kipsang came within four seconds of the world record when he finished the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon in 2 hours, 3 minutes, 42 seconds and his addition to the field of elite runners intensified the spotlight cast on the 40th anniversary race.
David Monti, editor and publisher of Race Results Weekly, annually assembles the professional field for the New York City Marathon and watched Kipsang "crush" the field to win the London Marathon in 2:04:44 in April. But he noted that Kipsang will be pushed by "the best field they’ve ever had (in Honolulu)."
Muindi’s course record of 2:11:12, set in 2004, figures to be in jeopardy come Sunday, "not only because of Kipsang, but the race has five guys who have run under 2:08," Monti said. "That’s a formidable group."
Kipsang arrived from Kenya on Wednesday with his wife, Doreen, giving him a few days to acclimate to the conditions before Sunday’s 5 a.m. start.
"The course here is more humid, it’s very hot and I understand it’s hilly," Kipsang said. "(In New York) we can try to go very fast because New York would be very cold. For here, it’s a bit warm."
Muindi will run in his 20th Honolulu Marathon on Sunday and knows talent is just one factor in effectively traversing the 26.2 miles that takes the runners through downtown Honolulu, into Waikiki, out to Hawaii Kai and back to Kapiolani Park.
"It’s a very different race and a very tricky race also. It has a lot of challenges," Muindi said.
"So it needs a lot of thinking, a lot of caution. It’s a marathon you have to approach with a lot of respect, because if you come out assuming it’s going to be easy … you’re going to pay and pay dearly."
Muindi added that Kipsang, although running in Honolulu for the first time, "is a guy with a lot of experience. He will know how to handle it."
Kipsang’s ability to handle his business on the road has led to ventures as a businessman in Kenya. He opened a 37-room hotel in Iten in October and has also built rental housing in the town renowned as a training hub.
His ascent adds to Kenya’s legacy of developing world class marathoners and serves as another example for the next generation of runners.
"This is an important marathon for us because this was where Ibrahim Hussein really first brought the Kenyan marathoners out to the world (in 1985)," said Odembo, who made the trip from Washington to support the seven Kenyan runners entered.
"It’s now become part of our tradition, so kids grow up running knowing they can someday be world champions as well, they can travel the world and that they can be professionals."
