Cherono reduces course record

This sequel far exceeded the original.

Lawrence Cherono’s second Honolulu Marathon victory followed much of the same script as the first and again closed with a record-breaking surge into Kapiolani Park.

Just about 12 months after breaking the marathon’s 12-year-old record, Cherono slashed more than a minute off the mark again Sunday in completing the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 27 seconds while defending his Honolulu title in the event’s 45th running.

“I ran in good position and I was in good condition again,” Cherono said.

“I am happy again because I came here for a second time and breaking a course record is a great achievement to me.”

Part of a tight pack that maintained a brisk pace through wind and rain in East Honolulu, Cherono answered a push by 2014 champion Wilson Chebet on the return leg along Kalanianaole Highway, just as he did on his way to his 2:09:38 finish last year.

Cherono dropped the other contenders even earlier this time around and when he broke the tape at Kapiolani Park, the 29-year-old Kenyan became the ninth runner to win consecutive Honolulu Marathons and the first back-to-back champion since Nicholas Chelimo in 2010 and ’11. If Cherono returns next year, he’ll take a shot at joining Ibrahim Hussein (1985-87) and Jimmy Muindi (2003-05) in winning three straight.

Chebet, 32, also stayed on record pace for most of Sunday’s race and improved on his time of last year in finishing in 2:09:55. But Cherono was already draped with a Kenyan flag when Chebet held off Vincent Yator to complete his third straight runner-up finish.

“He’s my colleague and he has done two course records … and it’s good for him and I’m also proud of him,” Chebet said of Cherono. “I also proud of myself because I bested my time from last year.”

Yator came in third at 2:10:38 followed by Titus Ekiru at 2:12:19. Dennis Kimetto, the world-record holder in the marathon, fell off the pace before the lead pack reached the 10-mile mark and did not finish.

Last year, Cherono arrived in Honolulu after running a marathon in September and surged away from Chebet in Kahala to crush the previous record of 2:11:12 set by Muindi in 2004.

Cherono went on to win the Amsterdam Marathon in a personal-best 2:05:09 in October and the shorter recovery and training time prior his return to Honolulu tempered his expectations for Sunday’s race.

But not long after the 5 a.m. fireworks show boomed over Ala Moana Boulevard, Cherono sensed the record might again be within reach.

“I was not expecting (the record), but after the 5 kilometer (mark) I felt like my body was moving so I had to keep up with the pace,” Cherono said.

While Kimetto fell off the pack early, the group of seven elite runners remained tight while fighting through wind and rain in East Honolulu.

They hit the halfway point in 65 minutes and stayed close through the Hawaii Kai loop before Chebet made his push as they passed Kalani High School heading back toward Kahala. But Cherono quickly swallowed up the gap, passed Chebet in the 22nd mile and had opened up a 25-second lead by the time they reached Waialae Country Club.

“My body was really strong and I kept pushing the pace along,” Chebet said. “I left my colleagues but Cherono came from behind and then I fought one-on-one with him, (but) I was bit too tired and then he made a move.”

After becoming the second man to record a sub-2:10 finish in the race’s 45-year history, Chebet might be wondering what it’ll take to win a second Honolulu title.

“Maybe I’ll start another new strategy,” he said with a broad smile, “because I’m sure next year I’ll be with him again.”

Cherono had all but secured his second straight title while running alone through Kahala and covered his 25th mile, the climb around Diamond Head, in 4:59 to keep the record in sight and again added a $15,000 bonus for setting the course mark to the $40,000 winner’s check. Chebet earned $16,000 for second place.

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