LIHUE — First-time triathlete Mahiai Naihe was stoked just to have completed the course.
“It was great. My body was in pain. Coming through, it all just went away with everyone cheering you on,” Naihe said. “Hopefully we do this every year. I loved it. I’m sore now. But when you run through the finish line, what an exhilarating feeling.”
About 155 people took part in the inaugural K-PAL Hammerhead Sprint Triathlon and 5K Fun Run/Walk on Sunday morning in Lihue, about 75 of which competed in the triathlon, said race coordinator Lisa Ledesma.
“I think it went pretty smooth. Little hiccups for the first one, but that would happen. It’s our first, but we’ll learn,” Ledesma said. “They are so excited. They were so happy. They can’t wait for next year.”
The three events of Sunday’s triathlon were:
– A 500-meter swim in Kalapaki Bay.
– A 14-mile bike ride beginning at Kalapaki Beach, going up Kalapaki Circle/Ho’Olaulea Way and turning at Kapule Highway, and then three laps to-and-back from the North Vidinha Soccer Fields to the junction of Kapule and Kuhio Highways.
– A 3.1-mile run starting at Vidinha Stadium, going along Kalapaki Circle/Ho’Olaulea Way to the Kauai Marriott Resort and back to the finish line on the track at Vidinha Stadium.
“It was amazing,” said triathlon participant Terry Taylor, who placed second in the ages 65-69 division.
“My problem was the swim. I got confused. I don’t (see) things very well in the water,” Taylor continued. “I lost about eight minutes in the water. But the tri was fantastic. The roads were closed off. It felt so safe. It really felt like we could do the race without worrying about cars. It was just really nicely organized and really well done.’
Davis Ka’ahanui of Oahu was the top overall finisher among the men, completing the course with a time of 52 minutes and 16 seconds.
“I’m pretty happy. This was my first win of the year, so it was pretty good,” Ka’ahanua said. “It was like a breakthrough race for me. Usually, I’m not that close coming out of the water. I could see the first two guys right when I came out. I was in striking distance.”
Lectie Altman, also from Oahu, was the top finisher among the women with a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 54 seconds.
“I was excited to participate in this first annual triathlon here. To win a race is always an honor,” Altman said. “It’s always nice to come back with a little bowl.”
The 5K Fun Run/Walk went along the course of the 3.1-mile run of the triathlon.
“It was great. Conditions were perfect,” said Fun Run participant Kathy Reams, who finished second in the ages 50-57 division. “It was a great turnout. It will just get bigger and bigger. It’s nice they added a 5K race for those who don’t do the triathlon.”
The triathlon was a fundraiser for K-PAL (Kauai Police Activities League), a nonprofit coordinated by the Kauai Police Department. Funds will go toward K-PAL’s numerous programs such as boxing, wrestling, basketball, flag football and jiu-jitsu.
The amount raised is yet to be determined, Ledesma said.
“The main thing I saw when everyone was walking out and they saw me, they had to say that they had so much fun and can’t wait for next year,” said K-PAL Officer Mitchell Collier. “It’s nice because it’s their own thing. It’s from Kauai. That made me very happy.”
To have fundraising events for K-PAL, Collier said, “It means the world to me.”
“It means I’m doing my job and I’m helping out the community. That’s what I signed up for,” he said.
Collier wanted to thank Lt. Mark Ozaki for all his work with K-PAL, as well as the KPD’s men and women who were on patrol making the event safe.
Ledesma added: “Everyone came out to support Kauai Police Activities League. It’s all for the kids. That’s the main thing. It’s all about the kids. It’s not just about winning.”
Top finishers
Sprint Triathlon
Male overall: Davis Kaahanui, 0:52:16
Male 18:24: Davis Kaahanui, 0:52:16
Male 30-34: Benjamin Williams, 1:05:59
Male 35-39: Broc Anakalea, 1:10:45
Male 40-44: Travis Parker, 11:13:50
Male 45-49: Conrad Caringal, 1:19:21
Male 50-54: Johnny Grout, 1:17:32
Male 55-59: Maka Imi, 1:47:16
Male 60-64: Leo McCarthy, 1:21:36
Male 65-69: Jim Beatty, 1:49:58
Male 70-74: Roy Yamagata, 1:57:14
Male 75-79: Dick Smith, 1:59:20
Female overall: Lectie Altman, 1:11:54
Female 18-24: Kamaile Kapanui, 2:00:26
Female 25-29: Kelsey Campos, 1:16:19
Female 30-34: Lectie Altman, 11:11:54
Female 35-39: Kristin Foster, 1:30:18
Female 40-44: Leigh Drachman, 1:32:30
Female 45-49: Lois Lutz, 1:27:19
Female 50-54: Hildegarde Miyashiro, 1:31:29
Female 55-59: Mary Lindimore, 2:02:21
Female 60-64: Roberta Halliburton, 2:17:23
Female 70-74: Anna Myers, 2:11:05
Relay
Male: Randy Umetsu, Kekoa Ledesma, Tom Timmons
Female: Mary Bolwahnn, Lenette Rocha, Carly Hatdesty
Mixed: Monique Chow, Hannah Finazzo-Krueger, Liz Steiner
Keiki 5K Fun Run
Overall: James Pratt, 19:29
Male 4-9: Ben Olden, 27:27
Male 10-13: James Taylor, 21:21
Male 14-17: Sam Olden, 21:59
Female 4-9: Shoyla Edgerton, 41:09
Female 10-13: Claire Sullivan, 31:26
Female 14-17: Angelika Catiggay, 43:42
