HONOLULU, HI—For the second year in a row, the pro women held off the chasing men at the KALAKAUA MERRIE Mile along Honolulu‘s sun – dappled Waikiki Beach. After the men won the first seven editions of the chase format—where women are given a head start and the men try to run them down—Nikki Hiltz broke the streak last year with a 4:28.39 victory, leading three women across the line before the first male finisher, Hobbs Kessler. The women had a 32-second head-start in 2024.
This year, the women’s field took off from the start line on Kapiolani Park with 31 seconds in hand. Almost immediately, American record holder, Sinclaire Johnson tucked in close on the heels of the pacer, Aurora Rynda.
“I was a little surprised no one else went with the pace,” said Johnson afterward. “I kept looking down for the shadows on the ground, but then I decided, ‘oh well.”
With a strong move just before the turnaround, Johnson opened what turned out to be in an insurmountable lead.
After finishing a close third in last year‘s race, she cruised home three seconds clear of defending champion Nikki Hiltz, setting a new course and American road mile record, but just missing the world record by 7/10 of a second. Her 4:21.66 broke Miriam Cherop’s 2018 course record by one second, and Kristin Gear’s American record by over two. Johnson earned $10,000 for the win. Hiltz crossed second in 4:24.82, earning $5000.
Flagstaff-based Josh Hoey took top honors for the men in his first appearance at the Merrie Mile, taking third place overall, in an adjusted 4:26.5 (3:55.15 gun time). He won $3000, plus an extra $2500 for being the first male across the line.
Hoey was coming off a world indoor record in the 600m last weekend at Boston University (1:12.74). The 1:54–1:55 halfway split the men had agreed to at yesterday’s technical meeting passed closer to 1:58–1:59, and they never could get the leading two women within kicking range as the crowds lining the course roared them home.
A total of 12 Olympians and four world champions made this the most credentialed field in race history. 3250 citizen runners entered, as well, racing the iconic layout before the pros, making the ninth Kalakaua Merrie mile the largest and fastest in its short history.
The 53rd JAL Honolulu Marathon will cap the weekend tomorrow morning beginning at 5 AM. You can catch the coverage on Hawaii News Now beginning at 6 AM Honolulu time, 8 AM Pacific and 11 AM Eastern.
2025 Kalakaua Merrie Mile
- Sinclaire Johnson – 4:21.66 CR, AR
- Nikki Hiltz – 4:24.82
- Josh Hoey – 4:26.15 (3:55.15)
- Susan Ejore-Sanders – 4:26.69
- Hobbs Kessler – 4:27.66 (3:56.66)
- Yared Neguse – 4:28.52 (3:57.52)
- Festus Lagat – 4:29.11 (3:58.11)
- Geordie Beamish – 4:29.46 (3:58.46)
- Nico Young – 4:29.65 (3:58.65)
- Vince Ciattei – 4:29.69 (3:58.69)
- Donovan Brazier – 4:30.12 (3:59.12)
- Weini Kelati – 4:30.16
- Nozomi Tanaka – 4:30.37
- Ollie Hoare – 4:30.80 (3:59.80)
- Dani Jones – 4:32.13
- Sage Hurta-Klecker – 4:35.34
- Emily Mackay – 4:36.07
- Heather Maclean – 4:36.12
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tonireavis.com 
Not FloJo – she died in ’98! 😢