By MATT GERHART
By MATT GERHART
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Striding swiftly all by his lonesome toward Keaukaha, Curtis Huffman almost could have passed as just another Sunday morning runner.
The bib he was wearing, however, was a dead giveaway. There was never much doubt about who was No. 1 as he headed to the finish line at Hilo Bayfront.
Huffman claimed a soggy 15th edition of the Big Island International Marathon, showing off his elite status and separating from the field in the early-going.
The 27-year-old from South Dakota also crossed items off a pair of to-do lists.
“The two things I wanted to accomplish on vacation were run the marathon and go snorkeling,” said Huffman, who’s visiting the Big Island with his wife, Casey. “We also want to go to the volcano.”
His time of 2 hours, 39 minutes, 31 seconds was more than 15 minutes ahead of runner-up Andrew Taylor, though its was far behind a personal-best of 2:31 that Huffman’s reached twice, including at the Boston Marathon. Justin Gillette (2:34.69) set the BIIM course record in 2011, but didn’t return this year.
“Little slower than I’d hoped,” Huffman said. “I kind of wanted to do 2:36-ish. I knew I wouldn’t be close to the course record, because I really didn’t do that much training for it. The rain was kind of tough and the humidity. Was kind of hoping it would wait until mile 20 to rain so that it would cool me off.
“You start going through hills and it’s kind of pretty through there with forests, and all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Where’s this one going to end? It kinds of winds around and you don’t really know. It’s hard because it’s up and down, you do a 6:30 (mile) and then a 5:30 (mile), you’re kind of all over the place.”
Looking to finish a marathon in a 10th different state, Huffman had previously planned to run Honolulu, but he and Casey altered their plans for a six-day trip to the Big Island.
The race started with a light mist, followed by intermittent rain, and it didn’t take Huffman long to live up to the No. 1 racing bib that he had requested from organizers.
“I passed a half-marathoner at around the 12th mile,” Huffman said, “and that was pretty much the last person I saw. I was all by myself.”
Japan’s Mai Fujisawa (3:07:25) was equally dominant in becoming the first female to finish. The 37-year-old was sixth overall, crossing 25 minutes ahead of countryman Yuki Masuo.
Like Huffman, Fujisawa was also running her first BIIM. Through an interpreter, she said she’d run the Honolulu Marathon and won smaller races in her home country, but after finishing 17 minutes off her personal best, she simply smiled and shook her head when asked about Sunday’s time.
“I liked the beautiful scenery and laid-back style,” she added.
The Nos. 3-5 female finishers were all Big Islanders. Kailua-Kona’s Elda Carreon (3:36:53) was third, followed by Volcano’s Martha Caproni and Hilo’s Shalila De Bourmont.
Carreon, 31 and originally from Mexico, called the course tough but appreciated the wet conditions. She’d previously run marathons in Kona and Volcano, but only took up the race a year ago.
“Surprised with my finish; a good time,” she said. “I’ve always liked running.”
Waikoloa’s Jason Thorp, 40, a former three-time BIIM champ, was the first isle male.
All things considered, he said the 11th-place finish (3:17:09) marked a positive step in the right direction after a disappointing result last year.
Not surprisingly, the former Hilo resident felt right at home in the rain.
“To me, these are ideal conditions,” Thorp said. “I miss Hilo and consider Hilo my hometown.
“My goal today was just to survive. When I found out I was the first Big Island finisher, it kind of surprised me. It’s an honor, just wish I was a little bit faster.”
A lot of runners who watched Huffman on Sunday probably shared a similar sentiment — though they’re not likely to run up against him again in Hilo anytime soon.
Huffman was pessimistic about coming back to defend his title.
“Maybe after he runs all 50 (states),” his wife said.
Between the marathon, half-marathon and 5K, there were just more than 900 participants, and Chicago’s Mary Ann Zelma was among the satisfied customers.
A veteran of “50-something” marathons, including 12 in Chicago, she gave her first race in Hilo a rave review after finishing in 4:24:17.
“This is the best, the best,” she said. “It was gorgeous and the volunteers were great. It was unbelievable. I’d come back and do it again in a heartbeat.”
Notes: Hilo’s DJ Blinn, David Hammes and Marie Kuramoto and Kailua-Kona’s “Cowman” are the only four runners to finish all 15 marathons … Taylor of Kaneohe, Oahu, has now been the top Hawaii finisher twice. Honolulu’s Tomotsugu Goto was third … When Clyde Shank of Plano, Texas, crossed in 5:11:40, he joined the 50-state club. Shank, who fittingly sported No. 50, has also completed marathons on all seven continents.