Return to Peaman's Articles

The Mad, Mad Month of March has finally finished. The final
weekend saw some great N.C.A.A. basketball, a very traditional run down at Honaunau and the makings of a fantastic rivalry in B.I.I.F. track.

On the basketball court the Maryland Terrapins won their first
N.C.A.A. hoops championship by beating the Hoosiers of Indiana 64-52. The two and a half week tournament is always one of my favorite sporting events each year and like most people I love the upsets.

I also like the fact that the winner of the 65 team tournament is
decided on the court rather than the Bowls Polls and B.C.S. computer that college football uses. As West Hawaii Sports icon Brian Perdue told me the past few weeks, "Fear the Turtle!"

Here at home, the Easter Saturday celebration known as the
Mac-A-Thon was held for the 21st time. Over the past two decades the race has attracted most our island's best runners. A quick look down the past winners lists or the records sheets will verify this and remind you of how talented our Island of Hawaii athletes are.

Saturdays 3.1 and 6.2 mile runs were held on the old road from
Honaunau to Napo'opo'o. The races were moved down closer to the ocean in 1996 when traffic got a little too busy on Painted Church Road. While the old mountain courses challenged everyone with a few tough hills, the new ocean courses can also test even the swiftest runners with it's own series of rolling hills and the added benefit of some good ol' Kona heat.

The early morning start was beautiful with cloudless skies and a
great family (ohana) atmosphere at the line. The 6.2 milers took off first with two time champ Karl Honma striding straight into the lead. Right behind him was three time defending ladies champ Rani "The Road Runner" Tanimoto, JahPeaple and a very fit Angie Miyashiro.

As the leaders disappeared down the road it was time for the
always energetic start of the 3.1 miler. The shorter run always has been known for its ohana feeling especially in the keiki divisions where the first 50 to 100 yards seem to be their favorite part. The unique barefoot division is also fun to see as the young and a few young at heart take off down the road
without the modern convenience of high tech shoes.

Just like Honma in the longer race, Tai Scarborough quickly shot
to the front while his pursuers and the gleeful keiki chased in vain. Scarborough hit the halfway point with a solid lead and blazed back to the finish with a winning time of 18:57. For many years, Scarborough has been a top finisher at the Mac-A-Thon, several times he has been right up front with the leaders while running barefoot, including an overall victory in 2000.

Second overall went to Scott McNamara who turned in a strong 40-49 division time of 19:55. Daniel Jesser took third and recorded an equally impressive 50-59 age group time of 20:15. Charles Stiles at 20:34 and Columbus, Ohio's Jim Tucker at 21:08 rounded out the top five.

Topping the wahine field was 4 time 6.2 mile and now 3 time 3.1
mile champ Autumn Johnson. Johnson's wire-to-wire victory brought her across the line in 21:14. Besides the wahine win and a 7th overall finish, Johnson also earned a new 40-49 record by knocking off the previous best of 23:08 set by Mary Prevetz in 2001.

Uala Lenta stayed close to Johnson and finished a strong second at 21:52. Heather Harlaw took third at 22:12. In a close race for the fourth and fifth place spots, Dawn Velasquez edged out Mary Prevetz 23:52 to 23:53. Despite losing her 40-49 record to Johnson, Prevetz' day ended up good as her time easily gave her a new 50-59 record.

The morning's third and final record in the 3.1 miler went to
Susan Dursin who put her name in the books with a 60-69 record time of 32:55.

Not too long after the top 3.1 milers finished, the legendary Karl
Honma crossed the line with a lead on everyone. His time of 35:54 fit right between his 1996 and 1997 winning times of 34:56 and 37:06. Another outstanding time set by Honma was his 3.1 mile mountain course victory of 16:54, way back in 1985.

An inductee of two hall of fames, Honma just doesn't seem to ever
slow down and that's why he truly is a running legend.

Second overall went to legend in the making, "Road Runner"
Tanimoto at 40:10. Tanimoto's win was her fourth in a row at the Mac-A-Thon where she holds the 20-29 and overall course record of 38:06 set just last year.

Angie Miyashiro was next at 41:26. Her third place overall time
demolished the old 40-49 mark of 45:41 set by Mary Prevetz in 1996. JahPeaple took second for the kane and fourth overall with his time of 42:05.

Closing in on JahPeaple was Nicole Anderson who wrapped up the
wahine dominated top five with her new 19-and-under record time of 42:12. The prior best of 54:04 was set by Tulsi McCarthy in 1999. Melanie Aiona at 42:37 and Julie Uldricks at 51:05 completed the ladies top five.

For the kane, Carlos Fuentes took third at 44:40. Dane Decker was fourth in 45:03 and Johnny Chapin wrapped up the elite five and the record breaking with his new 60-69 mark of 46:47.

Besides being a beautiful run/walk and another record breaking
day, the Mac-A-Thon also helped to raise some money for the Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club. Congrats and mahalo to race organizer Jack Kelley and his entire Keoua Crew for a great event and for all the time and energy that they put into making the Island of Hawaii such a wonderful place.

On the track over in Hilo both Ikaika Kamaiopili of Hilo and Bobby Sheetz from Kohala are kicking off their high school season with exciting races each time they face each other. The duo raced three times last Saturday with each event of their distance triple coming down to a sprint finish.

In the 1,500, 800 and then the 3,000 Sheetz held the lead
throughout only to have Kamaiopili pull even with him down the home stretch, then edge him out at the line. Kamaiopili took the impressive distance triple with time of 4:30.2 for the 1,500, 2:07.6 for the 800 and 10:36.9 for the 3,000. Sheetz followed in the runner-up spot each time just inches behind at 4:30.9, 2:07.8, and 10:37.2.

Well, I guess spring really is here and with duels like these the
B.I.I.F. track season looks to be a good one!

A few of our former B.I.I.F. track stars continue to shine at the
University of Hawaii as their women's track and field program begins its second year. A few weeks ago in a distance carnival meet at Occidental College in California, former Ka'u and H.P.A. runner Casey McGuire-Turcotte was part of a U.H. top three sweep in the 1,500. She earned the silver with a time of 4:42.46 that was less than 2 seconds behind teammate Cheryl Smith
who hit the line in 4:39.65. Alethe West completed the U.H. trip
with her third place time of 4:49.30.

Joining McGuire-Turcotte at the meet were Diane Kohara (Waiakea) and Kira Lee (H.P.A.) Kohara placed 11th in the 800 at 2:26.71, while Lee took 14th in the heptathlon with 3,116 points.

The Rainbow Wahine continued their road trip at the Northridge
Invitational where McGuire-Turcotte improved her 1,500 time to
4:40.41 but this time took third. Alethe West won the event in 4:32.80.

Our strong distance wahine took the 4x800 relay crown with a time of 9:16.87. The U.H. "B" squad took 4th in 9:52.54 and the "C" team placed 6th at 10:29.57. The U.H. "A" team once again was victorious in the distance medley and then took second in the 1,600 medley.

The versatile freshman Kira Lee hurdled her way into a 6th place
finish in the 100 high hurdle event with a time of 18:18. Way to go Bows!

Also in off-island news Kailua-Kona's Rob Enright returned home
from Oahu last weekend with an age group victory at Saturday's 18th Annual Tinman Biathlon. Enright completed the 2.7 mile run and 1/2 mile swim at Ala Moana Park in 32:28 which easily gave him the 45-49 age group crown.

Peter Hursty took the overall title for his third time in the past
four years. Hursty was challenged early on by brothers Chad and Matt Seymour but was able to pull away during the swim and clock in at 25:40. Deirdre Tennant defended her ladies title by finishing 6th overall in 27:37.

Last but certainly not least our East Hawaii athletes have been
kept busy the past several weekends with the Hilo To Volcano
Ultramarathon/Relay and the Coconutman Triathlon. In the 31.1 mile run from Hilo to the Cooper Center in Volcano Village, Dano Banks topped the field in 5:47:15. Cowman Amooha followed with a solid time of 6:42:10.

The 3-person relay title went to the defending champs of U.H.
Hilo. The trio of Julien Stevens, Owen Kano and Alistair In, who called themselves Kimo's Crew, made it up the mountain in 3:27:55. Their closest rival was Kimo's Crew Too who crossed the line in 3:48:43. Vulcan runers John Beitler, Ikaika Ho and Aja Reyes made up the Too Crew.

A few weeks before the Ultra, Mike Fairchild put on his annual
Coconutman Triathlon. This year's event attracted a group of about 60 who were determined and ready for a 1/4 mile swim, 14 mile bike and 4 mile run beginning and finishing at Coconut Island.

Earning the moniker of Coconutman 2002 was U.H. Hilo athlete Tim Marr. Marr knocked off both Eric Glaus and Gary Cooke with a great time of 1:07:33. Glaus and Cooke finished in 1:12:18 and 1:12:50. Look for Marr to turn some heads at this Sunday's Lavaman Triathlon.

Topping the Coconut Women was Millie Cooke at 1:24:36. Debra
Bumatay at 1:35:01, Ruth Rivera in 1:40:16, and Jeanne Knapp in 1:42:31 made for a solid ladies contingent.

The most inspirational team in the relay race was 8 or 9 year old
Greg Yonimori teaming up with his dad Tyler and another youngster, Murphy Busek.

The family style event also motivated the keiki to join the fun
with a short swim, bike and run around the park. This event definitely brought out the most excitement and smiles of the day as the wee ones showed their spirit. Congrats to organizer Mike Fairchild for a neat event that helps to keep alive the true aloha of sports on the Island of Hawaii.

I'm sure many of our readers already know this but this Friday,
Saturday and Sunday will offer up a trio of fun events from the unique Speed Golf competition to Saturday's Keiki Swim/Run and Sunday's biggie, the Lavaman Triathlon. Call B&L Bike and Sports for more info on this festival of fitness.

Return to Peaman's Articles