Saipan Marathon brings $2M-plus international publicity

International media were strongly represented at the 7th Saipan Marathon on March 3, with over $2 million in advertising exposure in Japan and Korea expected through the annual signature event of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Five television stations and two magazines from Japan, as well as two magazines from Korea, were on hand to cover the race. This year, the marathon attracted just shy of 800 runners for the marathon, half-marathon, 10K and newly added 50K ultra-marathon.

“The Saipan Marathon, along with the upcoming XTERRA Saipan Championship on March 24 and the Tagaman Triathlon on March 31, are all promotional tools organized or supported by the Marianas Visitors Authority to spread the word about the Northern Marianas,” said MVA marketing manager Bruce Bateman. “Not only do these events attract visitors, they also provide an opportunity to showcase our beautiful islands through visiting media, as well.”

That opportunity is expected to translate this year to millions of televisions viewers and nearly 300,000 readers throughout Japan, as well as hundreds of thousands of readers in Korea.

Boom-Up filmed for a 30-minute program to air on Yomiuri TV and Chukyo TV, with special focus on CNMI Sports Tourism Ambassador and marathon supporter Kampei Hazama. Two female reporters of TV shows Hirujige-don produced by Nagasaki International Broadcasting and Niigata Ichiban! produced by TV Niigata Network were scheduled to run the marathon as part of their TV programs. Sapporo TV’s What’s New Cute? will air a 50-minute program about Saipan, and TV Oita Broadcasting and BS Nippon Broadcasting will collaborate on another production introducing Saipan to their viewers.

On the print front, Tarzan magazine returned to the Northern Marianas to prepare a two-page article for their exercise- and stylish lifestyle-keen readers. Sports Graphic Number, covering sports news and athlete interviews, will also publish a two-page article on the marathon next month.

Participants in this year’s event hailed from Japan, Korea, China, the United States, Hong Kong, Guam, the Northern Marianas, and other countries.

This year’s top finishers in the full marathon were, in the men’s division, Shuai Yang of China (2:50:28). In the women’s division of the full marathon, Mamiko Oshima-Berger of NMI led the pack (3:09:49), recapturing her championship titles from 2008 and 2009.

In the 50K ultra marathon, former Olympian Eric Wainaina Wahinya of Kenya finished first (3:32:19) in the men’s division, with Yoko Yamazawa of Japan topping the women’s division in 4:19:21.

Leading the half-marathon pack were Shohgo Tamura of Japan (1:27:55) in the men’s division and Terra Allen of USA (1:50:45) in the women’s division.

The winners of the 10K race were R. Charles Epperson of Guam (37:45) in the men’s division and Noriko Jim of NMI (44:43) in the women’s division.

“We give a big thank you to all our sponsors and the community for coming together to make this year’s marathon a safe and enjoyable one for the participants,” said MVA Community Projects manager Martin Duenas. “We look forward to another great event in 2013.” [I](MVA)[/I]