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Whether it's a big event like the Lavaman or something much smaller such as a Peaman, it's the volunteers that truly make the events happen. You will find this in just about every community group or organization and here on the Island of Hawaii we are very fortunate to have the world's best volunteers.

Over the past year I have chosen a wide variety of recipients for the Frozen Pea Productions Sportsperson of the Month honor and each time it has been very easy since we have so many deserving people. For the month of March, I have chosen both Sheryl Livingston and Sheena Ruegamer. Not only do they excel as athletes but also contribute a ton in the area of volunteerism.

Both Livingston and Ruegamer are regulars at the start line of many statewide swimming, running or multi-sport events and their way of excelling is actually a little different from the norm. The duo isn't up front with the leaders but is all the way at the back of the pack making the most of their entry fee.

I recently had a chance to mosey with them at the Mac-A-Thon and as we talked I realized that without people like them many of our fun local events wouldn't happen. Both Livingston and Ruegamer are super volunteers at many races like Sunday's Lavaman Triathlon, where they put two full day's of registration work on Friday and Saturday.

Their day off came on Sunday as Team She-She (as they like to be called) defended their title as the final finishers in the tough Olympic distance triathlon (swim .9, bike 24.8, run 6.2 miles). Unfortunately they weren't listed in the final results but they were the 277th and 278th athletes to cross the line.

While the leaders blazed the course in just seconds over two hours, Ruegamer and Livingston were out there working for 4 hours and 42 minutes. For their grueling effort, all they were rewarded with was being left out of the results and empty plates since all the food was long gone. "It's definitely a tough job being last, but someone's got to do it."

Although they may take their time out on the race courses both are the opposite when it comes to their volunteer work especially with the Special Olympics. Livingston has been a volunteer for the group for over 7 years and just a year and half ago she took over as the West Hawaii Area Director. Basically, she runs the program on this side of the island and always puts in many hours of overtime.

As for Ruegamer, she's been a volunteer with the group that supports our area's mentally challenged athletes for over two years now. In March they helped volunteer weight lifting coach Denise Lindsay put on their annual bench press contest at The Club In Kona.

It's a full time job working with these special athletes and can be very challenging at times but in the end the feeling of accomplishment they receive is well worth the effort.

Look for Livingston, Ruegamer and the entire group of Special Olympic coaches and volunteers to be very busy this Saturday as they put on their Annual Troy Barboza Torch Run and 3.1 miler as well as their Weinberg Neighbor Island Regional Swim Meet. Both events will be held at the Kona community Aquatics Center with the Torch Run and 3.1 mile race starting at 8:00 a.m. and the swim meet kicking off shortly after.

In the past the Torch Run has been a small but fun group jog but this year, in hopes of raising more funds for the Special Olympics Program, they've included a competitive 3.1 mile race. This has only been added here in Kona so please show your support by walking, jogging or running the event. Entry not only includes the usual t-shirt but the rare opportunity to support a great cause and meet some of West Hawaii's most inspirational athletes.

Congratulations to Livingston and Ruegamer on your March Sportspersons of the Month honor. For questions on the Torch Run or swim meet call Livingston at 322-0603 or Sgt. Alex Graves at 326-4268.

This weekend's Lavaman Festival of Fitness was great with the unusual sport of Speed Golf kicking off the run on Friday. The battle of two-person teams took place on the King's Course at the Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Local multi-sport athletes John Hagerty and Gerry Murphy won this year's title with a golf gross of 91 and a net time of 50:00. I have no idea what these scores mean but I can tell you that the unique version of golf received rave reviews from both participants and spectators.

The next day the fun moved down to the beach as Anaehoomalu Bay where volunteer race organizer Laura Dierenfield and her "world's best" crew of volunteers put on the Lavaman Keiki Beach Boogie and Youth Biathlon. Before the swimming and running, the small group of young athletes were treated to an Iron Hero Sports Clinic by past Ironman triathlon champs Lori Bowden and
Scott Tinley as well as Kona's own Loke McMichael who grew up doing everything from the Y-Not-Tri to the Keauhou Kona Half Ironman and now is a seven time Ironman finisher.

Following the inspirational talk that stressed the importance of having fun in sports, the 1/4 mile Keiki Beach Run took place with a group of 19 youngsters who were 7-and-under. Although times weren't taken, Travis Winters and Patrick Brown were honored as the top boys to finish while Blair Simpkins, Blair Calciolari and Claire Ledig (tied) were recognized as the leading little ladies.

Next up was the short swm-run biathlon for youth from 7 up to 15 years old. Just like the Beach Run, this event was a blast to watch as Patrick Simpkins from California made the whole thing look easy with a winning time of 4:25. At just 14-years-old, Simpkins is already a strong athlete who has won the always competitive junior lifeguard competitions in Los Angeles.

Right with Simpkins was fellow Californian Matt Brown who clocked in at 4:35. Our top islander Kalani Scott was next in 4:45.

Right behind the top three boys was the girls champ Kela Vargas of Kailua-Kona. Her strong run brought her across the line in 5:21. Kela's older sister Noelani was next for the girls at 5:35. Kiana Scott wrapped up the top three girls with her time of 5:59. Like all keiki events, everyone that showed up really was a winner and they were treated that way as each was given a finisher's medal.

I would look for both the Speed Golf and especially the keiki races to grow each year just as Sunday's biggie, the Lavaman Triathlon, has done. Since 1998 the Lavaman has seen significant growth in both participation and reputation.

Sunday's fifth annual competition saw 278 individuals and 28 two and three person relay teams cover the tough Olympic distance course that challenges athletes with some tough winds, the usual Kona heat and a variety of running surfaces from soft sand and coral to loose lava rock.

The just-under-a-mile swim was broken up into two separate waves with the men going first and the relay teams and women second. Ocean conditions for the two lap swim were as good as it gets at Anaehoomalu.

The smooth conditions saw Greg Larson exit the ocean first at 19:33 with 2-time defending champ Peter Hursty (19:53) and Tim Marr (20:13), a top runner at U.H. Hilo, close behind. Hursty quickly took the lead in the transition area while his competition continued to stream out of the water.

Hursty, who lives on Oahu, hammered the 24.8 mile bike ride in the day's fastest time of 59:51. His strong ride increased his lead going into the run to 4 minutes.

Behind Hursty, least year's third place finisher, James Cotter of
Kailua-Kona, had pedaled up to second. Oahu's Mike Bennett moved into third 5:11 back while Marr was hanging close in fourth 5:32 behind.

Even though Hursty's 4 minute lead on Cotter looked comfortable, the race was nowhere near over. The conditions and tough 6.2 mile course that finishes up with loose coral trails and a grand finale of soft sand on Anaehoomalu Beach has been known to wear down even the fittest of athletes.

Out front, Hursty was running strong but Cotter was on a mission. He was closing in with each mile until finally he ran out of mileage. Despite running almost 2 minutes slower than last year, Hursty's awesome swim and bike were enough to give him his third consecutive victory and a new course record time of 2:00:08. Hursty's 2001 time of 2:00:47 was the previous
best.

Cotter followed at 2:01:22. His incredible run of 37:37 was by far the day's best. Crossing the line in third was Roger Busch of Maui. Unfortunately Busch, who is one of our state's best runners, unintentionally missed a segment of the run course and personally DQ'd himself. This opened the door for Marr whose time of 2:07:07 put him in the elite three.

The wahine race that started 5 minutes after the men was similar with Deirdre Tennant out front following an awesome swim of 20:12, which was the third fastest of the day. Michelle Deasy at 21:07 was her closest pursuer, followed by Samantha Khoo at 21:55.

The ride saw Deasy stay in contact and finish just 45 seconds behind Tennant while 1999 Ironman champ Lori Bowden had pedaled into third.

Like Hursty, Tennant was able to run strong and take the victory with what I believe is a new course record time of 2:09:36. Deasy held off a fast moving Bowden to take second at 2:12;58. Bowden wrapped up third in 2:14:58. Bowden's run of 40:39 was easily the fastest of the day in the wahine race.

Maggie Grenier, 1998 Lavaman champ, was our top Big Island wahine with her 6th place finish and time of 2:20:39.

In the relay competition, Dietrich Lawrence led following the swim with a time of 20:29. Just seconds back were Sheri Lehmer at 20:31 and Amanda Hamilton in 20:36. On the bike Peter Bartsch, who was teamed up with Bill Hall (swim) and Oliver Kiel (run) powered his way into first with a solid time of 1:03:44. Kiel hit the trails and kept up a steady pace to give his team the overall and mens title at 2:10:54.

The mixed trio of Devonee LeCompte (24:10), Grant Miller (1:07:43), and Daniel Jesser (42:47) took 2nd overall and 1st mixed at 2:14:40. Third overall and 1st for the women went to Sheri Lehmer (20:31), Janet Higa-Miller (1:10:38) and Autumn Johnson (44:29) in 2:15:38.

Since my column started with our amazing Big Island volunteers, I'll wrap up with one final bit of praise for Rocky Campbell and Bob Irvine of Trojan Lumber. These guys, along with their construction crew, put in three full days of work out there and still had enough energy to race on a relay team. I saw Irvine at Saturday's registration just trying to get done so he could get back to work.

Campbell and Irvine teamed up with Kelly Goold for a 7th place men's division finish in 2:51:59. Later that day, as well as Monday, these guys were right back out there taking down and putting away. Maybe next year they could get a 15 minute time bonus for all their hard work , along with all of the other amazing volunteers!

Check out Rosey's Sports Show on Saturday morning at 8:30 and Sunday night at 9:30 for some great Lavaman race footage.

As I mentioned earlier, Saturday morning will be kept busy with the Torch Run and Weinberg Swim Meet. On Sunday, the action stays on the Kona side with the 8th Annual Craig Leepfrog Kona Beachman 10 Mile Mosey and 6th Annual 2 Mile Silver Fox Trot. Both runs will start together at 7:30 a.m. No apps, no entry fees, just some good old fashioned fun! For complete details of this utter lunacy, call Pea at 324-PEAS.

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