Robbins, Dutton conquer heat, humidity to win Maui Marathon | News, Sports, Jobs

Posted by Martina Birk on Monday, May 6, 2024

Maui Marathon winner Todd Robbins, of San Francisco, runs along the shoreline in Olowalu on Sunday. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos

KAANAPALI — An experienced distance runner and first-time marathoner will be leaving their island vacations with golds from the 53rd Maui Marathon.

Todd Robbins of San Francisco took the overall title as he finished the 26.2-mile course in 2 hours, 47 minutes, 40 seconds on Sunday. The female winner was Montana’s Marissa Dutton, who finished her first-ever marathon in 3:35:20.

“It was amazing,” Robbins said just moments after grabbing a banana and cup of water at the finish line. “I think I went out a bit too fast and hit the wall after that hill in the midpoint, so it took me a little while to gain my composure, but I’m happy. Running in Hawaii is a lot harder than the Mainland — the humidity mostly.”

With the hot West Maui sun and some headwind, Robbins knew he wasn’t going to beat his personal record time of 2 hours, 41 minutes that he set in Chicago last year, but “it was a beautiful course and I’m super stoked.”

“I just wanted to have fun with it,” he added.

Women’s winner Marissa Dutton of Montana crosses the finish line Sunday.

Averaging about a 6:20 pace per mile, Robbins held the lead for the majority of the route that started from the old Sugar Mill in Kahului, traversed over the Pali and ended in front of the Kaanapali Beach Hotel.

He planned to celebrate the victory with a dinner with his husband and mother-in-law at Lahaina Grill.

About 20 minutes after Robbins crossed the finish line, runner-up Samuel Kopotic clocked in at 3:08:44.

Kopotic and Wailuku resident Keith Yurevitz were only a few paces apart from each other, but already 9 minutes off Robbins, at the 13.1-mile mark before Kopotic slightly pulled away throughout the second half of the race.

Yurevitz, the first Maui finisher, placed third overall with a time of 3:13:34. The Maui Marathon was his second-ever 26.2-miler following the Maui Oceanfront Marathon in January.

Maui Marathon winner Todd Robbins (center) leads the pack at the start of Sunday’s race in Puunene.

“I always just do it for fun,” Yurevitz said after resting his legs while surrounded by his wife, friend and Goddaughter. “It’s just something fun to do. It’s the best way to see the island — that’s it.”

The event on Sunday drew about 1,800 runners, walkers and wheelchair competitors as well as crowds of spectators lining the gates that guided folks to the finishing area, where they were greeted with participation medals, refreshments and high-fives.

Participants doing the half marathon, 10- and 5-kilometer races did an out-and-back route from the start-finish line in Kaanapali.

According to event officials, runners from 19 different countries competed Sunday.

“It’s great, I love it,” said Yurevitz. “Like I said, this is the best place to run. I run four days a week, so I always see the beautiful sunrise every morning.”

Top Maui female finisher Michele Felber of Kihei relaxes after completing Sunday’s race.

For Dutton, completing 26.2 miles has been a goal of hers since she was a little girl.

“It’s unlike any feeling in the world,” she said. “I’ll definitely bask in it for a while.”

Dutton, who finished 16th overall, knew she was close to the front pack of women. With about 3 miles to go, she said she started to reel in the leader who had been suffering a possible injury and did not finish the race.

Winning the women’s division “feels insane,” she added.

“I never thought that would be the case,” said Dutton, who was accompanied on her Maui vacation by her husband. “This is my first marathon ever.”

Top Maui male finisher Keith Yurevitz of Wailuku makes his way along the coast.

She added: “(Officials) told us at the beginning to drink water at every spot and I definitely needed to do that because I wanted to stay hydrated. I come from Montana, it’s super dry, so totally different. It felt good, though, I could breathe really well.”

Georgina Woiak of Baltimore was the second female finisher in 3:46:55, and Kihei resident Michele Felberg was third in 3:48:12.

Felberg’s last two marathons were back in 2012 and 2018, and she just “felt like it was the time” to train for another.

“So good, very unexpected,” Felberg said of her placement. “I was not trying to run for time, so it was kind of a surprise.”

She didn’t see the front runners in her sights until hitting the pavement through historic Front Street. It was the camaraderie from the water stations and spectators that pushed her through the finish.

Vancouver’s Chris Samis wins the wheelchair division as the only entry Sunday.

“Oh my gosh, it was so fun,” she said. “I really enjoyed it a lot. It was really fun to run along the coast and pass so many people cheering you on and getting to see all of Maui in the morning was just amazing and the energy was really great.”

Felberg said with a laugh that she was going to celebrate the feat by “eating so much food.”

“Yeah, and get a little shower in and I think we’re going to see some jazz tonight here in Lahaina and just take it easy,” she said.

* Dakota Grossman is at dgrossman@mauinews.com.

Second-place finisher Samuel Kopotic passes Papalua Wayside Park on Sunday morning.

Women’s winner Marissa Dutton powers to the finish line Sunday.

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