KAILUA-KONA —Christmas might not come until later this week but for many around the Big Island, the holiday cheer kicked off with the 11th annual Jingle Bell Beach Run Sunday morning.
A recording setting 837 competitors dressed in festive attire from something as simple as reindeer antlers, to more elaborate Santa Claus and christmas tree costumes for the 5K and 1-mile races. The event took place on Alii Drive, starting and finishing in front of the Coconut Grove Marketplace. The event also included a pair of Santa Keiki Dashes on the volleyball court.
“It’s special to see how the community came together in full force for a holiday celebration,” said event organizer and runner Rani Henderson. “It really felt like it was so much more than just a run, which for me was the best part. We knew it would be big this year, but the final turnout blew me away.”
With 680 runners, Henderson added that the 5K has become the largest on the Big Island.
The races proved very competitive, with 2-time champion Luis De La Torre, last year’s champion Ziggy Bartholomy and 2013 runner-up finisher Billy Barnett as the odds on favorites to compete for the overall title at the start of the morning. However, Big Island newcomer Jared Burris surprised everyone, crossing the finish line first in 16 minutes and four seconds.
Luke Lefebure followed in second at 16:18. Wrapping up the top five were Barnett (16:55), Tanner Boone (17:02) and De La Torre (17:08). Bartholomy (18:25) placed eighth.
“It was really good competition with two of us (Lefebure) really duking it out up front almost the whole way,” Burris said. “I loved how everyone dressed in costumes and was cheering for each other. It really makes it an awesome, fun event.”
Burris moved from Indiana to the Big Island only a week and a half ago and is currently living in Kapaau. He is fresh out of college, where he competed on the cross country and track team at Wabash College, a NCAA Division III school.
“I had some friends that were moving here and didn’t have much to do so I decided to move here with them,” Burris said. “I just got a job at a cafe and I will probably be a substitute teacher at Kohala. I’m just trying to live life.”
Other notable Big Island men in Sunday’s 5K field included Cody Ranfranz and Dan Gampon. Ranfranz finished the race sixth in a time of 17:24. Gampon placed 86th with a time of 23:46.
“I loved the atmosphere and the excitement of the race,” Ranfranz said.
“The race was perfect and you could feel the Christmas spirit in the air,” added Gampon.
In the women’s 5K, Peggy Yetman traveled down from Alberta, Canada and edged out Bree Wee with a time of 18:35. She placed 11th overall. For Yetman, the win was nice but she was just happy for the warm weather.
“We are American but we moved to northern Alberta three years ago for my husband’s work,” Yetman said. “We spent our first two winters up there and we decided no more of this negative-40 degree stuff over this Christmas holiday.”
Yetman is no stranger to the Big Island or tough competition. The last time she was in Hawaii she competed in the IRONMAN World Championship.
“We have been here for about a week and it feels good to run a 5K,” Yetman said. “It has mostly been IRONMAN races since we moved so it was fun to run fast and let it loose. I loved the atmosphere and Bree was right there with me and she was taking part in the Christmas theme.”
Wee, the local pro, finished second in the women’s division and 16th overall with a time of 19:15. This was her fourth runner-up finish, but she seemed to be at her happiest as she instructed the little kids during a pair of keiki runs on the volleyball court.
“I think this is one of the greatest family events on the island,” Wee said. “It is competitive, but you have everyone from small sizes to big sizes dressed up in costume and you can really feel Christmas.”
Wee has been a part of the Jingle Bell Beach Run for a while and she has noticed how much it has grown over the years.
“This turnout is huge,” Wee said. “I was at one of the first races and there was about 40 of us and maybe we wore a bow or a bell on our shoe, but now everyone is in full costume.”
Rounding out the top five women finishers were Nicole Brist (28th, 20:37), Elsa Palmer (31st, 20:47) and Peyton Young (33rd, 21:13)
Other Big Island notables included Kristin Old (sixth women’s division, 34th overall, 21:16), Keili Dorn (eigth, 36th, 21:30), Rani Henderson – with son Cole Henderson – (11th, 52nd, 22:11) and Melissa Braswell (26th, 91st, 23:59).
While the 5K was the main attraction, the 1-mile run also drew a big field.
Victor Fredstand, of Captain Cook, was the first running to cross in a time of 6:56. He was followed by Rafi Palmer (7:07) and Elijah Hall (7:12).
Nine-year old Jaiden Basden, of Kailua-Kona, was the first woman to cross and the seventh overall with a time of 8:08. Wrapping up the top three were Kira Spencer (13th overall, 8:45) and Maya Fitzgerald (16th, 8:59)
“It was a really good run,” Basden said. “I like how everyone was dressing up and celebrating.”
The event wrapped up with a couple of keiki dashes around the sand volleyball court and a costume contest.
“As always, the crowd went wild for Santa’s Keiki Dash and the Creative Holiday Costume Contest,” Henderson said. “It made me smile seeing everyone have a good time from start to finish.”
