WAHIAWA — The Kaua‘i Marathon and its major sponsor Kaua‘i Coffee distributed $4,000 in Youth Running Scholarships to five Kaua‘i graduating seniors at the Kaua‘i Coffee Visitors Center on Friday.
The scholarships were presented to seniors, who had an active high school career in running.
The seniors were identified as Micah and Noah Kostka, Saxon Kimball of Kapa‘a High School, McKenna Kerry, who graduated from Island School and Kaua‘i High School graduate Sophia Badua.
Kerry intends to carry on with running after recently signing a Letter of Intent with Centenary College, while the remaining recipients plan to look at perhaps intramural level running while in college.
“What are you doing after this?” said Jeff Sacchini of The Kaua‘i Marathon. “I’m going to run 5 miles. You can join me.”
The Kaua‘i Marathon and Kaua‘i Coffee partnered with Wilcox Health to present the 11th annual Keiki Run, which takes place one day ahead of the Kaua‘i Marathon and Half Marathon in Po‘ipu.
The Youth Running Scholarships program has been awarding monetary scholarships to graduating seniors from the island for the past 10 years. To date, more than $17,000 has been presented to deserving seniors for their performance in the classroom and on the field.
The culmination of the youth program is the 11th annual Kaua‘i Marathon Keiki Run, which will be presented by Wilcox Health on Aug. 31 at the far west end of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa.
The registration fee is $20 up to Aug. 15 and $30 thereafter. To encourage early registration, each participant who signs up by Aug. 15 is guaranteed a medal and commemorative T-shirt. Registration can be done online at www.thekauaimarathon.com.
Additionally, there is a 100-yard toddler trot for young runners between 2 and 4 years old, a quarter-mile run for 5 to 7 year olds and a half-mile run for 8 to 12 year olds.
The 15th annual Kaua‘i Marathon and Half Marathon is on Sept. 1 starting at 6 a.m. in front of Po‘ipu Shopping Village.
During the first 11 miles, both half and full marathoners run together before the half marathoners turn off into Kuku‘iula to an oceanfront finish near Koloa Landing Resort.
Full marathoners continue up Koloa Road to the neighborhoods of Lawai and Kalaheo before returning to Po‘ipu.
The after party and awards are set up on the oceanfront lawns at Koloa Landing Resort starting at 8 a.m. on race day. Race participants and supporters can enjoy food, refreshments and live entertainment until the early afternoon.
The online registration deadline is Aug. 28 at 11:59 p.m. Race packets, bibs and participant bags must be picked up at the Wilcox Health Sports and Fitness Expo at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i on Aug. 30-31.
For more information, visit the Kaua‘i Marathon webwite at www.thekauaimarathon.com.
