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Modern Medicine has come a long way the past few years, especially in the area of brain chemistry. Just last week it looked as if West Hawaii Today's Bobby Command was going to be a prime candidate for one of these psychological medications.

In a pre-Super Bowl column, Command boldly stated that the New England Patriots would win the game outright. Many so called experts scoffed at his courageous statement and felt that the game would be a St. Louis Rams blow out.

Personally, I've been wearing my Patriots hats and shirts non-stop for the past few weeks, but in all honestly even I, a fan of the P-Men, had to admit that I didn't think they could pull off the upset victory. Sure, I felt it would be closer than many of the analysts did but I wasn't convinced that they could actually do it.

By now, I would imagine that most everyone, even cave dwellers in
Afghanistan, know that Command was 100% correct and that the Patriots pulled off a 20-17 victory with a last second field goal. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of the hype, the hoopla, the game and even the commercials.

My hat (Patriots, of course) is off to Command for his brave
prognostication. I think his Super Bowl selection alone should earn him enough points to top the Pupule Panel. As for the rest of us who were non-believers or pure skeptics, keep in mind that there are many new medicines to choose from and that being "Pupule" crazy isn't all that bad.

On Super Bowl morning Team Mango and their group of fitness fanatics got together to blow out some carbon before plopping onto the sofa for a full day of football. On the morning agenda was a two lap, 1/2 mile swim, followed by a hilly 15 mile cycling segment and a semi-hilly 5.7 mile run.

Race conditions were perfect with calm waters and nice cool temperatures. The competition looked strong from the start with over 50 people in the water compared to just a dozen last year.

Kealakekehe Waveriders assistante swim coach Moose Mullahey powered his way to the front of the swim pack, which was downright brutal in the heart of the group. Mullahey's lead allowed him to avoid the flailing elbows and ankles around the two lap course. As he exited the water, last year's runner-up Jason Nixon was very close behind with Ralph Sawyer and top female
Paloma Vidgen also in tow.

Nixon and Sawyer quickly morphed into cyclists and were soon headed up the lower portion of the Hualalai Road up to the highway. After a short stretch on the highway, they took a right turn down Kuakini that would bring them back to the Hualalai intersection.

By the end of lap two, relay cyclist Gary Shields, who teamed up with both Vidgen and Peaman, had already hammered his way to a huge lead. Behind him in the individuals race, things were much closer with Thomas Pavel, Sawyer, Thad Caliolari, Mike Fairchild and last year's champ Eric Glaus all within striking distance of each other. Shields extended his lead on the third and final lap while the men's top five continued to remain close with Nixon,
Brent "Rooo" Ruegamer and Jason Collin also in the mix.

On the ladies side, Melanie Lomaglio, who was first for the individuals out of the water, was maintaining her lead during the ride but a hard charging Deeann Chesler was narrowing the gap with each lap.

At the bike finish Shields clocked in first sending his runner Harry "The Hammer" Yoshida out on the famous Mango Loop run course. In the individual race Pavel and Sawyer were still in a tight race for first with Pavel just slightly ahead. Behind them was the hungry mob of Calciolari, Fairchild, Glaus, Nixon, Rooo, and Collin.

The tough 5.7 mile course usually decides the race and once again on Sunday that was true. Yoshida's lead starting the run proved insurmountable as he was able to cross the finish first in 1:31:30. With Vidgen as a swimmer I believe that is a new mixed team record. The previous best I can remember is a 1:33:03 set just last year by Vasea Seifert, Shields and the "Road Runner" Rani Tanimoto.

As for Pavel, his slight lead didn't prove to be as solid. Although he was running well, he had speedsters like Glaus, Rooo, Sawyer and Calciolari all chasing him. The final mile saw a great race for the top three between Rooo, Glaus and Sawyer.

All three remained close all the way to the tape with Rooo's sprint speed winning out at 1:32:05. Rooo's strong run moved him up from seventh individual off the bike and knowing his buoyancy in the water who knows how far back he was after the swim.

Last year's champ Glaus hung tough to take second just 3 seconds back at 1:32:08. Sawyer followed just a few strides later in 1:32:14. Calciolari at 1:34:45 and Pavel in 1:35:35 rounded out a very strong top five. Nixon and Collin also broke the 1:40 mark with their times of 1:36:10 and 1:37:18.

For the ladies, Lomaglio's strong running helped her pull away from a relentless Chesler and take the victory at 1:47:18. Chesler finished a strong second at 1:50:10. Janet Scott followed in third at 1:57:51. Sarah Bulloch at 2:05:21 and Patricia Buchanan in 2:28:20 completed the ladies top five.

In the relay race second went to the team of Dave Lomaglio, Dave Silkey and Nicole Ohaiv. They combined for a time of 1:57:50. The two person team of Bill Yano and Yohann Rivand took third at 2:12:48.

Finally in a short biathlon for kids Nick Lafarga and Hana Monson took top honors for the boys and girls with their times of 17:51 and 17:52, respectively.

Last weekend's racing news from Oahu once again finds H.P.A. and Ka'u High School champ Casey McGuire-Turcotte burning up the roads. On Saturday McGuire-Turcotte, a senior track and cross country runner at University of Hawaii, blazed the 4.8 mile Harold Chapson Memorial Run in 30:35. Her time gave her first place in the 20-24 age group and brought her across the line
in fourth overall for the ladies. Nina Christensen topped the ladies field in 28:20. Christian Madsen beat everyone to the tape with an overall winning time of 25:18.

This weekend's fun on foot will take place right here in Kailua-Kona. On Sunday morning runners and walkers of all sizes are invited to participate in the Terrific Turtle Trudge and Mighty Mouse Scamper V. Both runs/walks start near the Kailua Pier at 7:30 a.m.

The Trudge will cover 332,640 inches on Ali'i Drive while the Scamper is much shorter at 126,720 inches. Prizes will be awarded to weight division winners. Although everyone must weigh in on race morning, no other entry fees or forms are needed. Call 324-PEAS for more info but keep in mind the best I will do on the distances is to tell you that 63,360 inches equals one mile. No millimeters, centimeters or kilometers will be allowed to participate.

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