1984

A cause for celebration and a celebration of cause . . . it was both for those who came to win and those who came just to finish yesterday's 12th annual Honolulu Marathon.

The most celebrated names, of course, belong to the winners - Jorge Gonzales of Puerto Rico and Patti Gray of California, the top male and female finishers.

But there were thousands more - 8,305 to be exact - who were reveling in a victory over a windswept course, a threat of torrential rains and the aches and pains that accompany a 26.2-mile undertaking.

For the 30-year-old winner Gonzales, the celebration began with 5.2 miles still to go in the race. That was when the defending Montreal marathon champ knew he had the race won with nearly a two-minute lead over Doug Kurtis and 1979 Honolulu winner Dean Matthews on the way to a 2 hour, 16 minute, 25 second finish, the third fastest in the history of the race.

Gonzales, who placed 13th in the Summer Olympics marathon, hopes the victory will help establish himself as a premier marathoner in the United States.

Patti Gray led the women's portion of the race from start to finish, winning in 2 hours, 42 minutes, 50 seconds.

Gusty headwinds were given as the reason that race winning Gonzales failed to break the 2:15:30 course-record set two years ago by Washington's David Gordon. The blustery breeze was reported gusting 25 to 40 miles an hour along Kalanianaole Highway and Lunalilo Home Road.