HANALEI — Individuals from as far as Connecticut and Texas enjoyed the biggest-ever Ha‘ena to Hanalei 8-mile walk/run and 5K run yesterday.
The 26th annual event, hosted by the Hanalei Canoe Club, brought in 352 athletes from all around the country.
“We had a great turnout once again,” event organizer Mary Mair said. “Everyone had fun. It’s just a nice community event.”
The 8-mile course began at the end of the road in Ha‘ena and finished at the Hanalei Pier. The 5K run started and ended at the pier.
Jay Barton, a visitor from California, said the race was a breath of fresh air.
“The course is amazing,” Barton said. “I don’t think there’s a better run than this.”
Mair said more visitors are making their way down to Kaua‘i for the annual North Shore event.
“The word is getting out to them and I think they really like the course and the intimate feeling of the race,” she said.
Hanalei’s Susan Messinger won the overall women’s title in the 8-mile race with a time of 51:11.
Waimea’s Mark Bogner (47:33) crossed the line first in the men’s 8-mile contest. Last year’s winner, Daniel Velasco of Lihu‘e, finished in third place (50:44).
Other winners in the men’s races included Kapa‘a’s Dustin Kaui (1-19 years, 52:18), Velasco (20-29 years, 50:44), Princeville’s Jay Hammony (30-39 years, 50:34), Honolulu’s Louis Tomsic (40-49 years, 52:26), Koloa’s Doug Rasmussen (50-59 years, 54:05), Santa Monica’s Jim Spear (60-69 years, 1:03.21) and Lihu‘e’s Allen O’Brien (70-plus, 1:50.35).
Katie Kinser of Flower Mound, Texas, took the 1-19 women’s race with a time of 58:13.
Other women’s winners were: Kahea Zietz, Hanalei (20-29 years, 59:44); Leigh Catherine Clarke, Kaleheo (30-39 years, 56:47); Cindy Wenzlick, Sanford, Mich. (40-49 years, 54:56), Robin Drapkin, Hanalei (50-59 years, 1:03.34) and Karen Yee, Lihue (60-69 years, 1:32.20).
Princeville’s Chris Nightingale took top honors in the 8-mile walk with a time of 1:40.20. Division winners included Mike Thornton, Hanalei (20-29 years, 2:01.52), Kawika Moniz, Kapa‘a (30-39 years, 1:46.53), Raymond Germyn, Kapa‘a (40-49 years, 1:45.11), Larry Barton, Princeville (50-59 years, 1:44.50), Carl Berg, Kilauea (60-69 years, 1:55.47) and Carl Kanouse, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. (70-plus, 2:03.45).
Kapa‘a’s Deborah Skinner triumphed in the women’s 8-mile walk with a time of 1:44.41.
Other top finishers included Priscilla David, Kapa‘a (1-19 years, 2:20.48), Kim McKeague, Kapa‘a (20-29 years, 1:52.51), Adora McDougal, Lihu‘e(30-39 years, 1:46.52), Mary Ellen Houston, Incline Village, Nev. (40-49 years, 1:44.47), Maureen Murphy, Koloa (50-59 years, 1:45.49), Donna Daigle, Kapa‘a (60-69 years, 1:50.33), Evelyn Brodie, Princeville (70-79 years, 2:02.59) and Daida Natsuko, Lihu‘e (80-plus, 2:29.05).
In the 5K walk/run, Kapa‘a’s Basil Scott topped all male athletes with a time of 17:39.
Division winners were Pierce Murphy, Hanalei (1-19 years, 19:24), Jerry Lagazo Jr., Kaumakani (20-29 years, 25:55), Todd “I Heard It Through The Grape” Vines, Kaumakani (30-39 years, 28:06), Johnny Grout, Hanalei (40-49 years, 19:01), Rob Brower, Anahola (50-59 years, 19:01), Ruben Wacker, Princeville (60-69 years, 31:13) and Wally Rapozo, Pacifica, Calif. (70-plus, 46:10).
Lihu‘e’s Marie Skello won the overall women’s 5K run/walk, tallying a 20:15.
Other top finishers were Hanalei’s Tiare Welborn (1-14 years, 26:50), Kalaheo’s Lindsey Dana (15-19 years, 32:36), Kaumakani’s Lynette Santiago (20-29 years, 29:03), Princeville’s Lois Lutz (30-39 years, 22:57), Hanalei’s Carol Andrews (40-49 years, 29:12), Kalaheo’s Hollis Dana (50-59 years, 31:44) and Hanalei’s Helen Stuefloten (60-69 years, 37:54).
Kalaheo’s Ka‘eo Kruse grabbed the male keiki run title (6:04). Division winners included Hanalei’s Luke McCullough (1-6 years, 9:05), Princeville’s Chris Potter (7-10 years, 9:21) and Kilauea’s Aaron Belmonte (11-plus, 9:19).
Kapa‘a’s Sarah Faraola, an up-and-coming runner, took the overall girls keiki run race with a 6:02.
Kapa‘a’s MacKenzie Fugett won the 1-6 years race (9:35), Kapa‘a’s Noah Fugett triumphed in the 7-10 years contest (8:14) and Hanalei’s Victoria Terrazas won the 11-plus competition (7:44).
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
