HONOLULU — Yemane Haileselassie operates a rideshare vehicle at night in Flagstaff, Ariz., transporting food and people to their destinations.
On Sunday morning, the Eritrean asylum seeker to the U.S. delivered his family something far more important: the first victory of his marathon career. He and Cynthia Limo of Kenya were the men's and women's winners of the 52nd Honolulu Marathon, with Limo, 34, becoming the first repeat winner since fellow Kenyan Brigid Kosgei did it in 2016 and 2017.
Haileselassie, 26, an Olympic men's steeplechase competitor who shifted to marathons because of the superior purses, covered the 26.2-mile course from Downtown Honolulu out to Hawaii Kai and back to Kapiolani Park in a winning time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 59 seconds, bettering his 2:14:44 in Boston in his marathon debut in April.
He received $25,000 for the victory — and perhaps more importantly, a leg up in the U.S. immigration process.
"I’d like to do fast citizenship and run for U.S., it’s my main goal," said Haileselassie, who plans to send money home to his wife and two children back in Eritrea, an East African nation notorious for its repressive social policies. He has not seen his family for 2 1/2 years but hopes to be able to bring them over. "I don’t know how (the immigration process) is going," he admitted.
His coach at a distance running academy in Flagstaff, James McKirdy, watched his protege surge ahead from runner-up Reuben Kerio at around the 30-kilometer mark in clear and still conditions. Hailesalessie grew a 13-second lead to 33 seconds by the 35K mark.
"For his family, this matters," McKirdy told Spectrum News. "And for him to win and to run as well as he did, it sets him up and we’re really excited for what the future holds for him."
Hailesalessie overcame a foot blister as he made his final push, buoyed by vocal local fans lining the home stretch.
"I was suffering, but it’s OK, it’s for a short time," he said.
As for whether this win can help Hailesalessie's citizenship bid as he heads to his next event in a busy marathon season — Houston on Jan. 19, then a major spring marathon to be announced — McKirdy was optimistic.
"Absolutely. You show extraordinary ability, as he has, over the years, that can move things along," he said. "But we don’t want to skip the process either, we want to do things the right way. We’re hopeful that the powers on high recognize that he’s one in a billion. He’s a good man. He works hard. He doesn’t just run full time; he does Uber and food delivery. He works 30, 40 hours a week at night, driving for food so he can train in the morning with us in Flagstaff."
Conditions were cool by Honolulu Marathon standards, in the low-to-mid 70s over the first four hours, with clear skies and little to no wind.
Kerio, a 30-year-old Kenyan who finished third last year, came in at 2:12:16. Kensuke Horio of Japan was third in 2:15:30.
"This race is good. The condition of the race, the organization, everything is perfect. Hope so, I will be back next year," Kerio said.
Kerio said he had a stomach problem around the third kilometer but pushed through it. Defending champion Paul Lonyangata dropped out at the 10K mark, just as he was leaving Waikiki, for unknown reasons; he was seen walking under his own power.
Limo crossed the 26.2-mile finish line in 2:31:14, improving on her winning time from 2023 by nearly two minutes. She also received $25,000.
"I’m so happy for today’s performance. I’m so happy for the entire community of Honolulu," Limo said. "I want to thank the organizers, the coordinators for this race, for welcoming me back to Honolulu the second time. ... I can say this year, has been incredible here for me. I’m so grateful and thankful to go out (with this)."
Limo won by a 2-minute, 14-second margin last year, but this time was pushed by her countrywoman Sandra Tuei, who finished 34 seconds back in 2:31:48. Limo pushed ahead with around 2 kilometers remaining.
"The other lady … she was strong too," Limo said. "From 40 kilometer, that’s when I tried (to push again), and I knew this was (set up) for me winning. ... I was very strong in my mind that this year I am going to win."
She said she feels that Honolulu is a welcoming place and said her first win here "really opened doors for me." Last year her mind was on her late coach who passed in early 2023, and she affirmed that she still feels his spirit.
Sunday was also about not disappointing the race organizers who welcomed her back.
"I have to show them that since they have given me chance, I won’t let them down," Limo said. "So I had to go for it and I’m very happy that I’ve won the race and I’m hoping next year they will give me another chance."
Judith Korir, also of Kenya, was third for the women in 2:36:17.
The top Hawaii resident finishers were Jared Breaux of Kailua in 2:44:48 and Kathryn Watt of Kailua in 3:01:51. The top kamaaina (Hawaii-born) finishers were Gabriel Tom of Honolulu in 2:52:08 and Amanda Beaman of Honolulu in 3:07:31.
Japan swept the wheelchair marathon competition with Kota Hokinoue winning the men's in 1:35:35 and Wakako Tsuchida taking the women's in 1:52:51.
A record 36,000 people were entered spanning the marathon, Start to Park 10K and Saturday's Kalakaua Merrie Mile won by Nikki Hiltz.
There were 18,844 people who crossed the starting line for the marathon and 8,361 for the 10K. Per tradition, there was no time limit to finish.
Gary Dill and Gerald Chun, the only two people to have run in every Honolulu Marathon, kept their streak alive. Chun finished the race in the men's 65-69 age group and Dill in the men's 80-84 range.
Note: This story was updated with details and quotes.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.