It was geared up to be one of the best showdowns of the year.
Two athletes. One bet. Everyone Wins.
The pre-race hype for April’s “Lavaman Challenge” had generated exuberant anticipation as co-workers from Team BioAstin — Nutrex-Hawaii’s Agnes Prehn and Edgar “Eddie O” Ombac — finally getting their chance to battle it out to the finish line at Lavaman Waikoloa’s Olympic Distance Triathlon.
Prehn and Ombac’s Lavaman Challenge began months ago as a friendly bet over dinner of who would finish first at the popular triathlon event. After posting some fun bantering on social media and seeing the interest the challenge generated, came a brilliant idea of turning their efforts into a fundraiser for Big Island’s youth.
As donations began to trickle in to support their cause, Prehn and Ombac trained harder than ever knowing that all monies would benefit the winner’s selected youth group: Gerry Rott’s LavaKids program for Prehn, or the Hilo Sunrise Athletics Club for Ombac.
But then the unexpected happened. A month before the April 10 showdown, Obmac was in a car accident that caused injury to his neck, knee and a stress fracture to his foot.
“It was extremely disappointing,” Ombac said of his inability to participate in Lavaman. “But luckily we were able to get a team together in my place. We had a student, Axel, from Waiakea High School do the swim, the Sunrise Athletics coach Lance Tominaga do the bike, and his wife, MJ, the run. I wanted to make sure that Sunrise Athletics was supported out there, if not by me, then by someone else.”
The Hilo Sunrise Athletics Club relay team completed the 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run in a great time of 2 hours, 51 minutes and 40 seconds.
Prehn on the other hand, had one of the best races of her life. The sales director for Nutrex Hawaii, producers of BioAstin and Spirulina, went through a complete transformation over the last year by shedding 70-pounds and accomplished a personal goal — becoming a triathlete.
Prehn finished her first Olympic Distance event in a time of 3:14:46.
“It was so much fun, I had a blast,” Prehn said. “And I’m so thankful that I had Alika (Hoomana) helping to train me all the way. But with the Lavaman Challenge, it motivated me to raise more money as I already knew that I would beat Eddie anyway.”
At Saturday’s Queen’s Lei Project Keiki Dash, 1-Mile and 2-Mile fun runs held at the corner of the West Hawaii Civic Center, Prehn and Ombac presented $1000 checks each to LavaKids and Hilo’s Sunrise Athletics Club.
“It was awesome,” Ombac said. “We can’t thank everyone enough who made donations. I’ve got to give credit to Agnes as she went above and beyond to raise funds — $1600 to my $400. And she killed it at Lavaman as well.”
Prehn added; “It was really fun to see it all come together. To finally pass over the checks felt really good. They were so stoked. And we were so happy to everyone who donated. We have such an awesome community.”
Indeed, a happy ending for all — the rare bet where everyone wins.