WAIKOLOA — Nobody was going to rain on the Lavakids’ parade.
Despite some grey skies and wet weather, nearly 200 keiki athletes took on the Lavakids Aquathlon course at the Hilton Waikoloa Village for the 16th edition of the youth event on Saturday morning.
“Kids love playing in the rain. I remember playing in the rain as a kid. It’s the best,” Lavakids director Ellie Sumic said. “Considering the conditions, today turned out incredible.”
The kids splashed in the Hilton’s Lagoon, before taking a sprint on the resort grounds and over some bridges, finishing just in front of the Grand Staircase.
The various courses involved a short dash for the littlest keiki, a 100-meter swim and 1K run for the 7-10 year olds, and a 200-meter swim and 2K run for the 11-14 year olds. Most added a competitive puddle-splashing event to their day after the race was over.
Some quickly sprinted, while others did the backstroke and strolled, enjoying the views. But at the finish line, everyone was celebrated and went home with a shiny new medal.
“We have watched kids grow from the dash, to the aquathlon, and the aquathlon to the big race,” Sumic said. “I get goosebumps. It’s been amazing to see.”
The up-and-coming athletes got some valuable prerace advice from a pair of legends — six-time Ironman World Champion Dave Scott, and three-time Olympic medalist rower Silken Laumann.
“Relax and get into the flow of your race,” Scott told the group. “This is a fun race, so have fun.”
Laumann, who got into triathlon after her rowing career, had some standout advice as well, not just for the race, but for life.
“Don’t let the things you can’t do in life stop you from doing the things you can do,” she said
A group that statement might apply to most is the Kona Kids, who all proudly wore their blue team shirts and ear-to-ear smiles.
Kona Kids is a mentorship and after-school program, run by professional triathlete Carrie McCoy, designed to help children that live in Ulu Wini transitional housing.
Coach McCoy, as she is affectionately known as by her pupils, gives the kids incentives for doing well in school, like participating in Lavakids.
This year, the group brought two-dozen kids to Waikoloa — most to participate, but some just to cheer, like Jose Alfred and Tyson Jennet. The duo enjoyed themselves thoroughly, dancing to the music and voicing support for their peers.
“We weren’t in the race, but we were cheering hard,” Jennet said.
“I never expected this much fun,” Alfred added. “I think I’m going to come here more often.”
Camaraderie is the key for McCoy. Although endurance sports are usually solo events, she is trying to use races like the aquathlon and the group’s swimming sessions to give the feel of being apart of something bigger than themselves — a team environment.
“The big thing we are working on is supporting each other and being a team,” McCoy said. “When I grew up, I was lucky. I ran track and cross-country. These kids don’t always get to be part of organized sports, so it’s a great way to learn those team-building skills.”
Nelson Johnson is now a two-time finisher with the Kona Kids group and wasn’t shy when asked to grade his performance.
“Oh brah, I’d give it,” Johnson said, pausing for a second, “A-plus. Yep, A-plus, A-plus.”
“He’s very humble,” McCoy said with a laugh.
Other A-plus performance came from the age group champions. On the girls side they were Sofia Garzon (8-and-under), Sophia Scholz (9-10), Maile Imonen (11-12) and Lainey Eckart (13-14).
In the boy’s races, the top age group finishers were Zachary Montgomery (8-and-under), Parker Birdsall, Sean Weyrick (11-12) and Aiden Ankrum (13-14).