When the clock hit midnight on Jan. 1, the world celebrated and welcomed a new year, a new decade.
From spectacular firework displays at the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Champs-Elysees in Paris and Brazil’s iconic Copacabana beach, to New York City’s famous “ball drop,” LA’s music and dance party and a packed Waikiki beach on Oahu, millions around the globe celebrated with champagne, confetti, midnight hugs and kisses all to embrace the 2020 New Year.
Here on the Big Island, many have already begun the tradition of engaging in a wide range of new resolutions and self improvement promises anywhere from mindful eating habits, setting new race goals or challenges, or maybe as simple as moving for 20-minutes a day.
Yet before we completely dive into the New Year, I’d like to take this time to reflect upon 2019, a year filled with memorable triumphs and accomplishments highlighting the Big Island swim-bike-run scene.
Caleb Barville dominates the cycling scene
To be known as a “cycling phenom” is no easy task especially when one is just 18-years of age. However, the Kealakehe High School graduate cruised through his 2019 senior year undefeated in every cycling race in the State of Hawaii.
His most notable wins include Oahu’s Dick Evans Memorial Road Race (112-miles), Maui’s Cycle to the Sun (36-miles), and Kauai’s Pedal to the Meadow (16-miles). Barville’s talents also extend well beyond crossing any finish line in first, as he created (and won) his own cycling racing series — Big Island Hill Climb Racing — that became an instant hit among all cycling enthusiasts. I can’t wait to see what unfolds in the cycling world for young Barville.
Tina Eakin wins BI Hill Climb Race series and Dick Evans Memorial Road Race
After winning the women’s division in the grueling Big Island Hill Climb Racing series, the 49-year old Kailua-Kona resident accomplished an incredible feat by making it a Big Islands sweep — winning Oahu’s Dick Evans Memorial Road Race in a time of 5:36:23. The race is considered to be Hawaii’s crown jewel and premier annual cycling event — a 112-mile loop around the beautiful island of Oahu and is also known for its rich cycling history and deep competition routinely contested amongst the state’s best, as well as many elite amateurs from around the country.
Duke Becker and Noelani Vargas claim Triple Crown Open Water Swim Series
Bragging rights to Big Island’s Triple Crown of open water swimming went to two young guns, Becker and Vargas. Both completed the summer-series that included the Cinco de Mayo Splash in May, Hapuna Rough Water Swim in June, and wrapped up with the King’s Swim on July 4th. Top male and female awards were based upon the lowest cumulative time between all three events, with Becker in 1:07:58 and Vargas in 1:11:06.
At 15-years of age, Becker’s most impressive finishes happened at the King’s Swim where he took top overall honors, and later repeated as the Richardson’s Roughwater swim champion. While Vargas (28 years), was the overall wahine winner at the Cinco de Mayo Splash and September’s Kukio 1.2-Mile Swim.
Alec Ankrum blazes through high school cross country undefeated, takes second at BIIF’s
It’s always a little daunting having a bull’s-eye pinned to one’s back at every race, but when you are the reigning BIIF cross country boy’s champion, that’s just part of being at the top of your game.
The Kealakehe High School junior began the year the same way as previous years, by winning all Peaman relay titles with his younger brother Aiden along with a few local 5K running events. Then, an undefeated boy’s cross-country season once again pegged him as the favorite leading into the BIIF Championships – ultimately ending with a hard-fought second place finish. Maybe not the outcome he had hoped for, but at 16-years of age, Ankrum possesses the foundation that elevates every aspiring athlete to greatness – a positive attitude and a strong determination to succeed.
David Wild anchors big wins
With big wins at the Lavaman Waikoloa’s Olympic Distance Triathlon, 100% Pure Kona Coffee Half Marathon, and several local running and Peaman events, you could say, David Wild had another outstanding year of swim-bike-run. Always pushing himself to the next level, the Konawaena High School math teacher was also the top local finisher at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii in June and October’s Ironman World Championships.
Breakthrough year for Hilo’s Noe Waller and Puna’s Amy Young
Hilo resident and Hawaii County Firefighter, Noe Waller, made a statement in 2019 establishing herself as one of the top female runners on the island by claiming the female titles at Hilo’s Big Island International Marathon (3:23:07) and Volcano’s Ohia Lehua Half Marathon (1:30:07).
While Amy Young of Puna, a 35-year old high school science teacher at Hawaii Academy of Arts &Science Public Charter School, won her first 10-Mile Mana Road crown in a time of 1:10:35. Young later followed that up by winning the Kau Coffee Trail Half Marathon (1:48:03) and November’s 100% Pure Kona Coffee Half Marathon in 1:29:08. Expect to see them both topping the podiums in 2020.
More long distance wins from Billy Barnett and Patrick Stover
They are friends, training partners and race rivals, but when it comes to long distance running, it’s hard to beat Volcano resident and Waiakea High School teacher, Billy Barnett, and Patrick Stover of Kailua-Kona.
Both continued their dominance with Barnett taking the overall win at Hilo’s Big Island International Marathon (2:51:57) and the Ohia Lehua Half Marathon (1:17:23). While Stover blazed over the inaugural 100% Pure Kona Coffee Marathon’s tough double loop marathon course to win gold in a fabulous time of 2:49:24.
Bree Brown’s comeback year
Not even a broken leg could stop Bree Brown from making the “best of the best” list. Which makes it hard to imagine that a year ago, the 40-year old Kahakai Elementary School teacher could not walk after breaking her leg while participating in the XTERRA 21K Trail Run World Championships. She vowed to return and oh boy did she!
From crutching to walking to eventually jogging, and enormous hours dedicated to rehabbing her leg, Brown amazingly returned to another spectacular year by winning two big marathons — June’s Kona Marathon (3:23:53) and November’s 100% Pure Kona Coffee Marathon (3:18:24). She then capped off her year with a speedy Honolulu Marathon finish last month (3:07:48). Other notable wins include the Mac-A-Thon 10K (42:24), Run for the Dry Forest 10K (48:56) and the Triptophan Turkey Day Triathlon (1:02:21). What’s next for her? Oahu’s HURT 100-miler on January 18th.