Banzai Memorial Half Marathon to benefit Whitmore
In an attempt to have Jamie Whitmore compete in the 2010 XTERRA Saipan Championships, organizers will be donating proceeds of the 4th Banzai Memorial Half Marathon and 10K Fun Run for the inaugural XTERRA Saipan winner's return trip here. 
Whitmore is recovering from cancer and missed the last two editions of XTERRA Saipan Championships.
Several months before the Crown Jewel of the series of XTERRA races unfolds next year, organizers of the Banzai Half Marathon are hoping to raise enough money to defray the cost of Whitmore's return trip to the island. Local triathletes are hoping to bring Whitmore back on Saipan either as a guest or as a participant in XTERRA.
The Banzai race-fundraiser for Whitmore will be held on Sept. 12.
Brad Ruszala, one of the organizers of the event, is expecting to have between 65 to 100 competing in the race starting and ending at the Banzai Cliff.
Registration is at 5:30am, while the half marathon will kick off at 6pm and the fun run at 7am. Entry fee is $15.
This year's defending champions are Ketson “Jack” Kabiriel and Mamiko Oshima-Berger.
Kabiriel, who is also known as “Road Runner Bunny” topped last year's Banzai race in one hour, 31 minutes, 50 seconds, passing his 2007 record of 1:31:51. He was runner-up to record-holder Eli Torgeson (1:18:10) in the second edition of the annual event. Ronald Villafria was second last year with his time of 1:41: 55 and Yosh Gabaldon finished after clocking in at 1:44:27.
Oshima-Berger claimed the first three editions of the Banzai half marathon and posted a record last year after capping the 19-mile race in 1:35.27. She crushed her own mark of 1:38: 09 in 2006. In 2007, Oshima-Berger clocked in at 1:41:46. Maimi Shimizu and Monica Yamaguchi made it to the Top 3 after submitting 137:27 and 2:01.44, respectively.
Other finishers were Tamio Nishikido (1:49.38), Louie Tenorio (1:58:09), 2006 champion Yoshi Suzuki (2:00: 22), Keum Bae Ji (2:00:37), Florian Braig (2:02:54), Joshua Berger (2:06:13), Andrea Ozawa (2:11:31), Nate Hawley (2:12:08), Kanae Quinn (2:12:09), Renato Calage (2:24:22), Manny Sitchon (2:31:29), and Cesar Fortaleza (2:35:51).
Matt Mancao ruled the 10K run in 26:10, followed by Nate Mateo (28:34), and Fred Camacho (30:37). Mieko Carey won the women's fun run with her time of 29:48, beating Melody Matson (39:03) and Kathy Pagapular (39:38).
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