The 2024 Paris 1,500m Olympian Susan Ejore is hoping to wrap up her topsy-turvy 2025 season in style when she lines up for the Kalakaua Merrie Mile (KMM) in Hawaii on December 13.
The Mile race serves as a precursor to the Honolulu Marathon, which will take place the following day. Organisers have promised a fierce battle on the streets of Honolulu.
“With the deepest and most acclaimed international field yet, along with an increase in prize money, the KMM is rapidly becoming the most prestigious road mile in the world,” Honolulu Marathon Association president Jim Barahal said.
"We are excited to welcome these incredible athletes to kick off the Honolulu Marathon weekend on December 13."
Up for grabs is a handsome Sh1.3 million ($10,000) winner’s purse.
Ejore has endured a mixed campaign, showing flashes of brilliance but struggling for consistency at the highest level.
She kicked off her season indoors with a superb second place in the mile at the Honolulu Marathon Indoor Grand Prix (4:23.55) before finishing fifth over the 1,500m (4:03.89) at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.
Her outdoor campaign saw her sharpen her speed in Kingston, Jamaica, taking fifth in the 800m (1:59.26) before storming to second in her preferred 1,500m event (4:05.10).
She then launched into the Diamond League with a strong runner-up finish in Doha (4:06.27), followed by a string of gritty showings: fifth in Rome (3:59.73), eighth in Paris (3:58.65), 11th at the Prefontaine Classic (3:58.05), ninth in Brussels (4:00.18) and sixth in Zurich (3:59.48).
Her world Championship dreams in Tokyo were cut short after she bowed out in the semi-finals, clocking 4:09.28 for seventh in her heat.
Ejore also struggled to hit form in her most recent outing, placing fifth at the Athlos Mile in New York on October 10, where she crossed the line in 4:33.31.
Quadruple world 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon reigned supreme in that race in 4:17.78, with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay (4:19.75) and American Nikki Hiltz (4:32.51) completing the podium.
In Hawaii, Ejore will not have it any easier as she faces a formidable American contingent led by Hiltz, with Sage Hurta-Klecker, Sinclaire Johnson, Dani Jones and Weini Kelati all in the mix.
The men’s race also promises drama, headlined by 2024 Olympic 1,500m bronze medallist Yared Nuguse and world indoor 800m champion Josh Hoey.
