Sunday’s highly anticipated Kamakahonu Swim started with a flurry of excitement and finished with nail-biting beach sprint – helping kickoff an eventful Fourth of July weekend.
X Rose and Brock Imonen led the field of nearly 230 participants over a 1-mile open water swim in Kailua Bay, beginning from Kaiakeakua Beach and finishing on the white sands of Kamakahonu Beach.
The event marked the third and final leg of the 1-mile Triple Crown Swim Races series that included the Anaehoomalu Splash and Hapuna Rough Water Swim, with the Rose-Imonen duo placing first and second respectively.
Reminiscent of the two prior races, Rose had the advantage coming into Kamahahonu Bay, with Imonen right on his feet. Rose knew it would come down to a beach sprint.
“I was like, okay this is the last one, I have to do my best,” said the 15-year old Kailua-Kona resident. “So, I told myself that I need to finish this and do it well.
“Up until the first orange buoy (near the half-way point), Brock was in front of me, then I kind of snuck up and took the lead. We then started to go back and forth a few times so it was close the whole way back. Once we reached the (Ahuena Heiau), I told myself to just start kicking. I was in front at that point and he was right on my feet. And then, it was the sprint up the beach.”
Rose won in a time of 22 minutes and 3 seconds, with Imonen a step back at 22:04. Hawaii County Firefighter, Keahi Parker, finished third overall in a great time of 23:25.
The women’s race unfolded similarly to the men’s, with Sophia Howard outsprinting Jayden Hall for the win. Howard claimed the women’s title with her time of 23:37, with Hall a stride back in 23:39, and Michelle Axelson in third at 23:53.
“I was really surprised,” Howard said of her win. “I totally didn’t know where I was at all during the race. I was kind of at the end of a group for most of the swim. I was with Michelle (Axelson) at the very beginning, but then I don’t know where she went. Then I didn’t see any of the other women for the rest of the race. I was running up the beach and saw Jayden, so then I just tried to make sure I ran up the beach before her. Then, I realized I was first overall.”
Howard, who recently graduated from a homeschool program and plans to pursue a major in history at Auburn University, said she did not participate in the first two swims of the Triple Crown series. And despite competing against a talented field of swimmers on Sunday, she worried about other things.
“I was mostly worried to just stay on the course,” said the 18-year old Kamuela resident. “That was my biggest thought. I have never done this race before. But I really liked it, the water was really nice today, and I thought it was a great swim.”
For Triple Crown Swim Race series director, Dave Gibson, organizing three 1-mile swim events — Anaehoomalu Splash, Hapuna Rough Water Swim, and Kamakahonu Swim — fulfilled a goal which was to revitalize an active swimming community.
“It’s been really great to see the community coming out for the event, the volunteers, the race team that has been doing a lot of work, it’s just been great seeing it all come together. (After three races) I feel we’ve got it down pretty good but there’s always a surprise at every race.”
And, he was right. To find out about the surprise that occurred after the completion of Sunday’s Kamakahonu Swim, read Friday’s Runnin’ with Rani column.
Kamakahonu Swim Results
Sunday, July 3
OVRNAMEHOMETOWNDIVISIONTime
1X ROSEKailua Kona, HIM15-1822:03.0
2BROCK IMONENKamuela, HIM19-2422:04.0
3KEAHI PARKERKailua Kona, HIM30-3423:25.0
4NOLAN MORTONKailua Kona, HIM15-1823:28.0
5MATT DIXONKailua Kona, HIM55-5923:33.0
6AIDEN ANKRUMHolualoa, HIM15-1823:36.1
7SOFIA HOWARDKamuela, HIF15-1823:37.9
8JAYDEN HALLCaptain Cook, HIF15-1823:39.3
9FINNIGAN MORTONKailua Kona, HIM15-1823:49.9
10MICHELLE AXELSONKailua Kona, HIF15-1823:53.6
11SUSAN GROFFWaikoloa, HIF55-5923:55.0
12PALANI GREENWELLKailua Kona, HIM30-3423:58.1
13CHAD OWENSSanta Rosa, CAM50-5424:05.8
14BRENDA AVERYKailua Kona, AKF55-5924:07.0
15CHUCK PONTHIERDenver, COM55-5924:11.3
16MICHAEL HOWEHolualoa, HIM45-4924:25.7
17JOE KENTPapaaloa, HIM30-3425:07.0
18ARCHER ANKRUMHolualoa, HIM15-1825:09.5
19MARK NOETZELKamuela, HIM55-5925:24.2
20ALANI MOOREHilo, HIF15-1825:42.1
21KILIHEAMAIKALANI OKAHolualoa, HIF11-1225:44.4
22JONATHAN BARBERSanta Rosa, CAM55-5925:48.9
23PEAMAN PEAMANKailua Kona, HIM55-5925:49.1
24EMILY MUNJARKailua Kona, HIF19-2425:50.2
25MICHAEL PIPTAPahoa, HIM55-5925:52.4
26KAKailua Kona, HIM19-2425:52.7
27MAILE IMONENKamuela, HIF15-1825:55.2
28SOMYONG JEONGKailua-Kona, HIF15-1825:56.6
29JADA KEENKealakekua, HIF15-1825:59.7
30TINA NEILLKailua Kona, HIF55-5926:03.5
31STUART BURDETTEKailua Kona, HIM55-5926:06.9
32BRITT BAILEYKamuela, HIF55-5926:14.7
33JERRY BESSKamuela, HIM55-5926:19.5
34CAMERON CORNFORTHKailua Kona, HIM15-1826:21.0
35ZANE IMONENKamuela, HIM13-1426:50.0
36BEAUDIN SCHADPapaaloa, HIM13-1426:51.7
37ANA ROSEWaikoloa, HIF13-1426:55.0
38KEKAULIKE KEALOHAKeaau, HIM30-3427:08.6
39GLEE JEWELLKailua Kona, HIF60-6427:15.8
40MADELINE PARKERKailua Kona, HIF25-2927:23.3
41SHARLENE GEEHolualoa, HIF55-5927:44.5
42SIERRA PONTHIERHolualoa, HIF25-2928:32.5
43JAMES MCCLEERYKailua Kona, HIM75-12028:46.0
44PHOEBE WYATTHilo, HIF15-1828:56.9
45ALEXIA ROSEWaikoloa, HIF19-2429:00.3
46ANNA THOMASKailua Kona, HIF25-2929:01.0
47PETER STEYNBERGHilo, HIMAssist29:02.0
48RALPH PICKETTSteamboat Springs, COM55-5929:06.0
49MICHAEL SMITHKailua Kona, HIM50-5429:08.0
50SOFIA WILTKapaau, HIF50-5429:12.0
51CHRISTINE WINNKailua Kona, HIF55-5929:13.0
52BEN WYATTHilo, HIM15-1829:23.2
53ALEJA RIVERAKeaau, HIF45-4929:33.5
54ALFRED KENTPapaaloa, HIM65-6929:36.0
55KATIE TEETSHonolulu, HIF30-3429:39.7
56SARAH SCHIERONSeattle, WAF45-4929:47.3
57MELISSA SCHADPapaaloa, HIF45-4930:16.6
58RYANNE DOHERTYWaikoloa, HIF19-2430:18.8
59TINA DOHERTYWaikoloa, HIF50-5430:19.8
60ED DOHERTYWaikoloa, HIM50-5430:21.0
61SOPHIA JORDANKailua Kona, HIF15-1830:23.0
62ADAM HORNICKCaptain Cook, HIM35-3930:33.0
63DARCY VINESWaikoloa, HIFAssist30:34.2
64BEATA TOUKamuela, HIF35-3930:37.0
65JD DEVINSHawi, HIM65-6930:38.0
66BILLY RICKARDSKamuela, HIM45-4930:39.0
67KAMALULANIOPANAEWA KAUAHIHilo, HIFAssist30:40.0
68PAUL MACIAZKamuela, HIM50-5430:42.9
69MARGARET MCCLEERYKailua Kona, HIFAssist30:53.0
70STEVE UCCELLOWaikoloa, HIM55-5931:05.1
71MAHEALANI KAUAHIHilo, HIF35-3931:17.0
72MENOLLY BENEDICTKamuela, HIF15-1831:20.0
73BOB HOXSIEKailua Kona, HIM60-6431:48.0
74MICHAEL SMITHCaptain Cook, HIM40-4431:51.0
75COLE HENDERSONKeauhou, HIMAssist31:53.0
76NOLAN YAMAKIHilo, HIM45-4931:55.2
77RANI HENDERSONKeauhou, HIFAssist31:57.0
78HELEN LEVINEKamuela, HIF60-6432:04.0
79CHRIS POERSTELKailua Kona, HIM35-3932:06.0
80STANLEY LEEKailua Kona, HIM65-6932:06.9
81ANGELA SUGARKeaau, HIF35-3932:08.0
82ROB MURRAYKailua Kona, HIM65-6932:09.0
83DENISE BOATWRIGHTKailua Kona, HIF65-6932:10.2
84CYNTHIA SMITHHolualoa, HIF35-3932:11.0
85VICTORIA BUSERKailua Kona, HIF45-4932:13.0
86MERRY FINCHKailua Kona, HIF65-6932:14.0
87TOI WONGKailua Kona, HIM45-4932:23.9
88DONNA TAYLORPahoa, HIF60-6432:27.0
89SPENCER WILLIAMSHonokaa, HIM35-3933:13.0
89JOHN FERDICOKailua Kona, HIM55-5933:13.0
91DANIEL OHALLORANKailua Kona, HIM35-3933:14.0
92LIA-LUCINE CARYHolualoa, HIF30-3433:15.4
93MATTHIAS KUSCHHilo, HIM55-5933:22.0
94LAURENTIU GRIGOREWaikoloa, HIM40-4433:25.0
95BARBARA TAYLORYuba City, CAF65-6933:32.0
96MOG MATHERKKailua Kona, HIM50-5433:35.6
97SEAN THORNTONKailua Kona, HIM15-1833:42.0
98LISA YOUNGSKailua Kona, HIF55-5933:45.0
99CINDY TOMPKINSKailua Kona, HIF55-5933:46.7
100SHARIE METHVENKamuela, HIF65-6933:52.0
101TERRY LYONSKailua Kona, HIF65-6933:57.0
102DANIEL BERGKeaau, HIM65-6933:58.0
103MARIE BERRYWaikoloa, HIF65-6934:03.0
104AMBER NORWOODSacramento, HIF40-4434:09.7
105BRENDA BETTENCOURTKailua Kona, HIF60-6434:12.5
106ERIC WYATTHilo, HIM50-5434:18.7
107ENOCK FREIREKailua Kona, HIM50-5434:21.0
108LESLIE CRAWFORDCaptain Cook, HIF60-6434:26.0
109GINGER THOMASHolualoa, HIF55-5934:37.0
110SCOTT HENDERSONKamuela, HIM50-5434:42.0
111VINCE HAMILTONHolualoa, HIM55-5934:57.0
112SKYE OMBACKailua Kona, HIF25-2935:10.0
113JOHN BROWARDHilo, HIM60-6435:17.3
114JON LINDBORGKailua Kona, HIM65-6935:19.0
115KEVIN PAINTONKamuela, HIM50-5435:24.2
116GREG GOODALEHilo, HIM55-5935:24.7
117LAURA BIRSEHilo, HIF40-4435:27.0
118CARRIE MCCOYKamuela, HIF35-3935:29.0
119STEVE SUGARKeaau, HIM75-12035:52.0
120PAUL LEONARDewa beach, HIM35-3935:54.0
121ANDREW LOEBKailua Kona, HIM70-7435:55.1
122MARIANNE STARRKailua Kona, HIFAssist36:10.9
123MIKIHolualoa, HIF11-1236:17.0
124MARIA OKAHolualoa, HIF40-4436:29.9
125GAIL KOSIOREKKaneohe, HIF65-6937:05.0
126KEOLALANI OKAHolualoa, HIM40-4437:17.0
127CATHIE BECKERKailua Kona, HIFAssist37:28.0
128ELLIOTT PARSONSKailua Kona, HIM40-4437:29.2
129TIAPEPE ULUFALEILUPEKailua Kona, HIF50-5437:32.0
130BRUCE WACKERKailua Kona, HIM75-12037:34.0
131BRIAN BOEGGEMANKailua Kona, HIM50-5437:53.0
132JASON HETZELCaptain Cook, HIM40-4437:59.0
133JASON KEENKealakekua, HIM50-5438:22.0
134ALENA SKRBKOVABrussels, BelgiumF45-4938:53.7
135LISA HACKWORTHKailua Kona, HIF55-5939:17.5
136ASHLEY COOPERHonolulu, HIFAssist39:31.4
137CATHY FEDAKPahoa, HIF60-6439:32.7
138MARK ENSTONEAustin, TXM55-5939:34.7
139MIKE MEDINAKailua Kona, HIM55-5939:39.3
140JILL WEBERKailua-Kona, HIF65-6940:07.0
141KAETI ECKERKailua Kona, HIF75-12040:28.3
142ROY DOLLWETHilo, HIM55-5940:29.5
143DANIEL PICCUTAKailua Kona, HIM65-6940:37.2
144JIM BUDDEKamuela, HIMAssist40:49.5
145MARTHA WEISSBAUMKailua Kona, HIF60-6440:53.0
146JOE WILEYWaikoloa, HIM40-4440:57.4
147ROBIN WOODLEYKapaau, HIF70-7441:25.0
148JOHN HAMMERSTROMPapaaloa, HIM70-7442:04.0
149KARI VASEYKailua Kona, HIF65-6942:33.0
150SHEAREEN GEDAYLOOHilo, HIF60-6442:39.0
151DARWIN WILLIAMSHonokaa, HIMAssist43:00.0
152JIM NUGENTKailua Kona, HIM70-7443:09.0
153RANYA WILLIAMSHonokaa, HIF45-4943:34.0
154KELLY PICKETTSteamboat Springs, COFAssist43:41.2
155LINDA MORLEY-WELLSHolualoa, HIF70-7443:57.0
156HEATHER A HERRICKAustin, TXF40-4444:14.0
157REBE SCKRABULISWaikoloa, HIF50-5444:24.5
158CHRISTIANA HETZELCaptain Cook, HIF45-4944:53.0
159CAROLYN PACKARDKailua Kona, HIF60-6446:20.0
160GARY GRIMMERHonolulu, HIMAssist47:32.9
161MONA MICHELSONHilo, HIF50-5447:52.0
162DAVE MANDELKERNHillsborough, CAM60-6450:09.5
163JACK HOYTKapaau, HIM75-12052:17.9
164WENDY CLARKKailua Kona, HIF70-7452:27.0
165SUSAN MCCARTHYLaupahoehoe, HIF75-12055:09.0
166ELAINE DOBINSONHolualoa, HIF75-12058:22.7
167CHERI UNOLos Angeles, CAFAssist59:23.3
168CHRISTINE O’GORMAN-EMBERNATEKailua Kona, HIF70-7400:13.3
169MAIKI COFEROcean View, HIF45-4903:45.0
170MARK HOLSTKailua Kona, HIMAssist04:21.0
171JANE HOLMESLaupahoehoe, HIFAssist04:28.0
172FATIMA PENTEADO-MARTINKailua Kona, HIF65-6904:29.8
173EDWARD MCFERRANHolualoa, HIMAssist06:27.0