It’s Halloween, a time of celebration and superstition that falls yearly on the 31st of October. For many, the annual holiday offers the perfect excuse to crash in on costume parties and haunted houses, dive into pumpkin-carving and apple-bobbing activities, and play silly pranks with the old-fashioned game of trick-or-treat.
Last weekend’s festivities kicked off Halloween week with a trio of events that got everyone’s heart pumping.
Saturday’s Race the Reaper 5K gave anyone who glanced toward the finish line an eerie feeling with goose bumps and a chill down their spine. Standing 20 feet tall was a skeletal figure draped in a black-hooded cloak, holding a large scythe and dared anyone to take a closer look.
With fear escalating at an all-time high, participants who donned an array of festive costumes burst out of the Keauhou Shopping Center parking lot, and headed toward the 5k-turnaround point near Magic Sands Beach Park.
Anticipation and fright kept racers looking over their shoulders as many wondered if they would be able to escape death himself, the Grim Reaper.
Canada’s Ellis Andrews seemed to have the most success as he led the way until the 2½-mile mark. From there, Kona’s John Ferdico, whose costume was the exact replica of Big Island Running Company’s Jason Braswell, decided it was time to make his move to finish first with a time of 22 minutes and 16 seconds.
“That guy is amazing,” Ferdico said of Andrews. “I can’t believe he’s 70 years old and running so fast. He actually beat me at a 5K a while back.”
The battle for second was a good one between Andrews and Cory Yamagata. With 200 yards to go, Yamagata passed Andrews going up the steep incline of what is popularly known as Kona Coast Hill, to finish in 22:25. Andrews followed in third place with an impressive time of 22:48.
Kona Coast Hill would also prove to be the challenge in the women’s race. Dressed as a sailor girl was Susannah Roy, who was en route to victory when Robin Tedlund used her quick strides to pass Roy on the incline to finish in 26:00. Roy crossed in second place at 26:12, with Irene Garcia not too far behind at 26:38.
In its third year, the Kealakehe Waverider Triathlon Club have settled in nicely amid a busy athletic community with the Race the Reaper 5K being one of four races scheduled this year to help raise funds for the club.
What started out with three students and a dream to form the Big Island’s first high school triathlon club have now expanded to 24 members, and it continues to grow.
Kealakehe math teacher and triathlon club advisor, Kristen Old, said the idea to start a triathlon club blossomed from her own personal triathlon journey.
“I began doing triathlons when I was 25 years old,” Old said. “I just love what triathlon has taught me. We live in the epicenter of triathlon so I thought why don’t we have something for the kids. I thought why not start the journey for these kids earlier.”
Old added that the club has given its young members just the right amount of boost needed to build upon their confidence, independence and positive outlook on life.
“Now they feel they are a part of the triathlon community,” Old said. “It’s a good feeling to know there is something positive they can do outside of school as well. Seeing these kids blossom and watching them grow into positive adults makes me feel good to know that I’m doing a good job.”
Puuwaawaa Trail Runs
Lying on the northern flank of Hualalai’s dormant volcano is the higher Puuwaawaa region featuring an exotic native dryland forest, home to endangered bird and plant species.
With its most prominent landmark — a majestic volcanic cinder cone — being one of the region’s most historic natural attractions, it’s no wonder why many decided to take part in the seventh annual Run for the Dry Forest 10K, 5K and Keiki Runs.
In the 10K event, two-time defending champion, Volcano’s Billy Barnett, looked as if he was out on an easy training run as he barreled across loose rocky footing and narrow windy turns to claim his third consecutive victory in 41:11.
Barnett, who is training for Oahu’s HURT 100-Mile trail run in January, eclipsed his time from last year and improved upon his winning time by nearly four minutes.
In a distant second place was Hilo’s Michael Sullivan in 44:08, followed by Marcus Hultgren of Sweden in 44:35.
Like Barnett, last year’s defending champion, Waimea’s Sylvia Ravaglia, who is also training for her second HURT 100-Mile trail race, topped the women’s field with a time of 50:50. Hilo’s Kim Pierce followed in second at 55:54, and rounding out the women’s top three was Kailua-Kona’s Yarden Dankner at 1:00:05.
Hilo’s Joseph D’amato outpaced Kailua-Kona’s Ben Torres for the win in the 5K event, finishing 21:11 to 21:34. Elliott Parsons was another 50 seconds back in third at 22:24.
In the women’s race, Kailua-Kona’s Jessie Krause cruised in for the win with a time of 24:59. Kendra Ignacio of Honokaa was next in 25:31, and Hilo’s Samantha Specht in third at 27:08.
Thrash &Dash
Fatigue did not seem to be a factor for cross-country teammates, Konawaena’s Cody Ranfranz and Olga Brocks. After the pair ran some of their best times of the season at last Friday’s BIIF cross-country championships in Waimea, the Wildcat duo repeated great performances on Sunday at Peaman’s Thrash &Dash Biathlon.
Near picture-perfect conditions set the stage for the 1/3-mile thrash in Kailua Bay, followed by a 2-mile dash on Alii Drive. Two-time Peaman Biathlon champion Ranfranz set his sights upon adding another title, as he and top relay swimmer, Jim McCleery, set the blazing swim pace.
After the arm thrashing was done and over with, McCleery ran up the beach in first with Ranfranz close behind. Not too far behind was Konawaena cross-country assistant coach, David Wild, followed by the top two women who exited the water together, Konawaena senior Brocks and myself.
After a quick transition, Wild sprinted down Alii Drive in hot pursuit of Ranfranz, but the damage was already done. Ranfranz’s lead from the swim allowed him the cushion needed to claim his third title of the year in a stellar time of 19:01. Wild finished in 19:09, with Kris Kiser outsprinting 12-year-old Silas Wiley for third, 23:07 to 23:09.
“It feels good to beat my coach,” Ranfranz said with a smile. “It’s a friendly thing between us, and it keeps it nice and competitive.”
I placed third overall and first for the ladies with a time of 20:45. Brocks, who became the BIIF Division II women’s cross-country champion on Friday, finished second for the ladies with her time of 24:04. Sunday’s biathlon was also Brocks’ first Peaman event. Coming in third was Serena Puaokalani in 25:40.
The team of Walter Sinicki and Ellis Andrews easily took the Split Peas relay title in 22:49. Handy Andy swam the 1/3-mile in 10:13, and Gregg Branter topped the 2-mile run in 13:10.
Levi Childers was the fastest to cover the 200-yard swim and 1-mile run to claim the Pea Wee title in 10:57. Next was Kanaipono Eckart in 11:35, with Leonardo Fraga Saldivar in third at 20:30.
In a great race for first were Elisa Childers and Katie Wickersham. Childers outsprinted Wickersham to top the female division 19:07 to 19:09. Jillian Withrow rounded out the female top three in 21:10.
The son-and-father duo of Peaman and Papa Pea claimed the Pea Wee Split Peas relay title in 37:40. Logan Eckart ripped through the 200-yard swim in 6:52, with Jen Withrow finishing the 1-mile run in 22:45.
Tomorrow, Ranfranz and Brocks will represent Konawaena at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association cross-country championships on Oahu at Central Oahu Regional Park.
“I’m really excited for it,” Brocks said. “I’m really nervous, but I know I can do it. I can’t wait to kick some butt. When I hear people cheering for me, I want to push harder.”
In addition, Ranfranz and Brocks are part of the eight-member team of Konawaena’s first triathlon club that officially began on Oct. 15. Wild, who experienced success in starting the Oakland Tri Club in California, couldn’t be more ecstatic.
“It’s exciting to be a part of something great from the beginning,” Wild said. “We’ve had a lot of support from the community, everyone has been so helpful. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but it’s all coming together.”
