Sunday was a day for the record books as the Monster and Mini-Monster Triathlon saw new winners, records, personal triumphs, and several first-time competitors that included a 12-year-old boy.
Race organizer Carl Koomoa couldn’t have done a better job raising the bar — providing the Big Island community with a first-class event from start to finish.
Most impressive was Koomoa’s army of volunteers who offered their day helping many fulfill longtime goals — from early morning water patrol, to course marshals, to full-service aid stations — it was truly amazing to see such community support.
Team Mango offered competitors two monstrous distances starting and finishing at Kailua Pier. The Monster, a 2.4-mile swim in the pristine waters of Kailua Bay, followed by a 112-mile hot and windy bike ride to Hawi, and finishing off with a 26.2-mile steamy run on Alii Drive, or the Mini-Monster that was half the distance.
It’s always a gamble to determine how one’s day will unfold given Kona’s notoriously windy conditions on the bike and unforgiving heat on the run that makes an already challenging course a battle in its own right.
Breezing through the tough conditions and winning the half-iron distance Mini-Monster event was Kona’s Cory McCord. McCord used fast splits on the swim and bike to claim the overall title in a stellar time of 4 hours, 50 minutes, 20 seconds. The win marked a personal triumph for the 29-year-old: It was his first victory at a triathlon event.
“It was a great learning experience,” McCord said. “It definitely set me up for the rest of my racing year.”
Second went to Michael DeCarli who finished in 4:59:12, followed by Andre Simonsen of Norway in 5:31:43.
In the women’s division, Ellyn Brown was the fastest, finishing the half-iron distance in a solid time of 5:58:10. Two minutes back was Canadian Shirley Van Dyke in 6:00:12, and rounding out the women’s top three was Kona’s Shirley Pratt who crossed the line in a great time of 6:04:20.
Two records were set in the Mini-Monster Relay division made up of Penn Henderson (bike) and myself (swim, run). Henderson’s sweltering bike split of 1:57:52 for an average pace of 28 miles per hour, crushed his 2011 bike course record of 2:04:57, and propelled our team to a relay record of 4:05:38.
“At the halfway point I knew I was on pace to break the record,” Henderson said. “It was just one of those days where everything clicked.”
In the iron distance Monster race for first, Waimea’s Sylvia Ravaglia proved once again there’s no stopping her when it comes to any endurance event. Not only did Ravaglia cross the finish line as the only female in the Monster race but also her convincing victory of 12:02:10 beat all the men, resulting in an overall course record.
“I had this weird song in my head that went, “What are you doing this for?’” said Ravaglia of her 112-mile bike ride to Hawi and back. “But I was really surprised. I thought the bike would be a disaster since I hadn’t really been training but I actually felt pretty good. It was only on the second loop of the run where it began to feel like a chore.”
With Ravaglia’s win in the Monster event along with her impressive HURT 100-mile endurance trail run finish on Oahu three weeks earlier, Ravaglia hopes she will be invited to compete in this year’s Ultraman World Triathlon Championships slated for Nov. 28.
“That is my goal for this year,” Ravaglia said. “It would be great just to be able to do it as it is something I’ve been wanting to do for a while.”
Kona’s John Howerton was second overall and first for the men in a great time of 12:21:30. Howerton’s time also beat the men’s course record of 13:37:07 set by Poland’s Kuba Wuls last year.
Second in the men’s division was Ravaglia’s husband, Mark, who finished in 12:47:56. Third on the men’s podium was Wuls in 13:11:55.
The Monster relay team of Lori Montgomery (swim fins), Chris Morrison (bike), and Orestes “Chicco” Barrios (run) claimed the relay title and set a record in 11:18:28. Their speedy time eclipsed the 2011 Monster relay record of 12:42:08.
In addition to record times, another type of history was made: simply by crossing the finish line.
Twelve-year-old Caleb Westfall Jr. became the youngest Big Islander to finish the Mini Monster’s half-iron distance, crossing the finish line in 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 30 seconds.
The Kealakehe Intermediate seventh-grader whose social scene typically includes hanging out with friends and playing football, soccer, and basketball, proved that a person can do anything if he sets his mind to it.
“I told my dad that this was something I really wanted to do,” Westfall Jr. said. “And I wanted to prove to myself that there is no limit to what I can do.”
Westfall Jr. began competing alongside his father, Caleb Westfall Sr., at Peaman’s free biathlon series. After several years of participating in the fun Pea Wee Division, Westfall Jr. decided to challenge himself and entered in his first triathlon, the 2011 Team Mango Captain Cook Challenge (1-mile swim, 2.5-mile trail run, 28-mile bike, 4-mile run) at age 9.
“I thought it would be something fun I could do with my dad,” Westfall Jr. said. “I felt inspired by watching my dad compete in races. I told myself that if he can do it, then so can I.”
That year, Westfall Jr. reached out to Lavaman Director, Gerry Rott. After receiving several heartfelt letters from the young Westfall requesting to be allowed on a Lavaman Relay Team, Rott finally said yes.
“It was a fun day to do Lavaman with my Dad,” Westfall Jr. said. “He did the bike, while I did the swim and run.”
While Westfall Jr. continued to progress at competitions in the local arena, a trip to West Chester, Ohio, last August enabled him to compete in the USA Triathlon Youth National Championships. Westfall Jr. finished the 200-meter swim, 10K bike, and 2K run in a fabulous time of 37:38.
Through his own participation at national and local events, Westfall Jr. hopes to inspire other kids to lead healthier lifestyles by choosing to be active and gaining the confidence to know “they can do anything.” Westfall Jr. plans to start his own triathlon club called “Kids Inspiring Kids.”
“I want to do well so other kids know that there is no limit to what they can do,” Westfall Jr. said. “All they need to know is that they can.”
Coming up
Saturday, two fun events take place. The Waverider Triathlon Club will host the Sweetheart Shuffle 10K (with partner) and 5K (solo) runs at the corner of Puohulihuli Street and Ane Keohokalole Highway at 7 a.m. Fees are $18 for singles, $30 for couples. Sign up at active.com or at Big Island Running Company. For more information email waveridertriathlonclub@gmail.com.
At 8 a.m., The Hawaii Cycling Club presents the Prologue Time Trial – the first cycling time trial event of the year. The free 10-mile race begins at Kaiminani Drive on Queen Kaahumanu Highway with registration beginning on site at 7 a.m. For more information visit hawaiicyclingclub.com.
Sunday, Frozen Pea Productions will host the Terrific Turtle Trudge (332,640 inches), Dragon Dash (126,720 inches), and Golden Fox 1-Mile Gallop (63,360 inches) next to Kailua Pier. The free running events begin at 8:08 a.m. No registration is needed, racers sign out when they finish. For more information, call Peaman at 938-2296.