It turned out to be another beautiful Sunday morning for Peaman’s 413th Biathlon. The event featured a ½-mile swim followed by a 2-mile run and a LavaKids PeaWee course that attracted nearly 100 biathletes to the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Kaiakeakua Beach.
Frozen Peas Production organizer, Sean “Peaman” Pagett, established his monthly free events on November 25, 1987, and for more than three decades, Pagett continues to provide the community opportunities to be active and live a healthier lifestyle by swimming and running.
Peaman events have also been the starting point for beginner athletes, providing a “no pressure” atmosphere to dip and dash with friends and family. Many who started off at Peamans have built upon their passion for the sport and can now call themselves an Ironman World Championship finisher.
For the younger keiki who participate in the LavaKids PeaWee course, this is where it all begins and Sunday was no different.
“Everyone knows Peamans are awesome, Peamans are free, and everyone is welcome,” said Kawika Singson, who is the host, videographer, and Big Island adventurist for Everything Hawaii. “Today’s Peaman is all about the kids, all about the keiki.”
Once the mass swim start began in Kailua Bay for the long course Biathlon, Keiki competing in the LavaKids PeaWee course featuring a 200-yard swim and 1-mile run started their event from the beach.
Kona Aquatic swimmers Grant Hammer, Byron Eads, and Cole Henderson — all just 9 years of age — made quick work through the 200-yard swim and were the first three to exit Kaiakeakua Beach.
Eads had the quickest transition by starting the run barefoot, giving him a lead over Hammer and Henderson who opted to put on running shoes.
Not too far behind were the top two females, 12-year old Joanna Coates from Sydney, Australia, and 7-year old Emily Braswell from Holualoa.
As keiki biathletes made their way over the run course, Henderson took the lead from Eads and maintained his position to win in a time of 11 minutes and 53 minutes. Eads continued his smooth stride to finish in second at 13:30, with River Abissi in third at 16:15.
“What I like about Peamans is that it’s super fun and I get to see my friends,” Henderson said after crossing the finish line. “I feel thankful that I get to do this, and happy that Peaman puts it on every month.”
Coates sprinted through the finish line in a fabulous time of 15:19 to win her very first LavaKids Pea Wee biathlon. Braswell was next with her time of 16:50, followed by Genevieve Wallace in third at 17:37.
Coates and her entire family recently moved from Sydney, Australia last Tuesday and heard about Peaman’s Sunday Biathlon.
“I really like it here,” Coates said. “We went to Volcano National Park and a lot of beaches. I thought today was a bit hot but other than that, it was good. My dad, brothers and I do a little bit of triathlons and I like the swimming.”
Her father, David Coates, said he’s known about Peaman events for several years.
“I’ve been doing triathlons for 15-plus years,” David said. “My older son is a competitive swimmer and we are actually going to volunteer for Ironman (World Championships).
In the long course biathlon, Levi Childers made it a back-to-back weekend by winning the BIIF cross country meet at Kealakehe High School on Saturday followed by another Peaman Biathlon win on Sunday.
Childers won the ½-mile swim and 2-mile run in a speedy time of 23:53. Fellow Kealakehe cross country teammates, Cameron Cornforth and Archer Ankrum, secured second and third place with their times of 25:29 and 25:35 respectively.
Not too far behind were Aiden Ankrum (26:00), who won the Peaman Biathlon in July, and Peaman (26:58), who never ceases to amaze with his athleticism at age 57.
On the women’s side, Elizabeth Torres claimed top honors with her time of 29:22. Torres was followed by Laura Birse (34:07) and Carleigh Rittel (35:50).
The next Peaman Biathlon event will be held on Sunday, October 30.
September 18, 2022
Peas
Place Name M/F Time
1 Levi Childers M 23:53.4
2 Cameron Cornforth M 25:29.5
3 Archer Ankrum M 25:35.1
4 Aiden Ankrum M 26:00.2
5 Peaman M 26:58.5
6 Marcus Richardson M 27:25.8
7 Nathan Coates M 27:45.0
8 Adam Ankrum M 28:03.9
9 Elizabeth Torres F 29:22.6
10 David Coates M 29:40.9
11 Samuel Schaus M 31:32.1
12 Laura Birse F 34:07.9
13 Jonathan Coates M 35:15.6
14 Carleigh Rittel F 35:50.3
15 Bruce Wacker M 37:05.4
16 Lexie Wright F 37:14.0
17 Kevin Rhinehart M 37:44.6
18 Lori Montgomery (Fins) F 37:53.3
19 Chelsea Segal F 39:11.6
20 Danny Becker M 41:56.7
21 Linda Pollack F 42:07.2
22 Pam Miller (Fins) F 42:09.3
23 Michael Traub M 42:21.6
24 Jason Wallace M 43:09.6
25 Kim Vaulkhard F 44:16.7
26 Bill Culhane M 52:25.1
Swimming Peas
1 Kilihea Oka F 11:32.9
2 Corn Holio M 15:06.2
3 Katie Pawelski F 15:07.4
4 Mikiala Oka F 15:32.8
5 Keola Oka M 16:20.6
6 Harry “The Hammer” Yoshida M 18:11.4
7 Brenda Nelson (Fins) F 24:14.9
Running Peas
1 Issac Keanaaina M 23:37.6
2 Sawyer Laux M 23:54.8
3 Jon Kunitake M 24:52.1
4 Jennifer Flores F 28:25.4
5 Chanedy Dois F 28:28.9
6 Linda Osterholt &Cole (K9) F/M 28:50.8
7 Amanda Van Weert F 28:52.1
8 Boom Shakalaka F 36:23.6
9 Cindy &Buddy (K9) F/M 12:59.0-ish
10 Anne Culhane F 12:59.0-ish
11 Kennedy Schull F 12:59.0-ish
Peawees
1 Cole Henderson M 11:53.5
2 Bryon Eads M 13:30.3
3 Raen Henderson (Fins and kickboard) M 13:49.5
4 Rani Henderson (Fins) F 13:50.9
5 Joanna Coates F 15:19.9
6 River Abissi 16:15.5
7 Elija Hoffman M 16:16.1
8 Emily Braswell F 16:50.9
9 James Burr M 16:54.1
10 Jojo Vegge M 17:11.5
11 Grant Hammer M 17:14.5
12 Noah Ynigues M 17:37.0
13 Genevieve Wallace F 17:37.9
14 Andrea Murana F 17:54.6
15 Stanley Tanimoto M 18:03.3
16 Juliette Wallace F 18:25.4
17 Craig Ynigues M 18:41.1
18 Shinbi Tanimoto F 19:35.3
19 Hunter Abissi M 20:18.5
20 Niko Nicholas M 20:31.8
21 Hazel Roberg F 21:38.9
22 Kendall Roberg M 21:42.2
23 Spencer Laux M 22:19.7
24 Apollo Van Brunt M 22:24.9
25 Kainoa Andaya M 22:44.9
26 April Nelson F 22:46.5
27 Kayden Heist M 23:43.1
28 Cayman Roberg M 23:50.0
29 Shelley Roberg F 23:51.9
30 Cassidy Johnson F 25:28.8
31 Kyle Jones M 31:21.1
32 Lisa Koene F 33:46.6
33 Kristina Anderson F 35:23.2
34 Serena F 36:22.7
Swimming Peawees
1 Kazu Yamagata M 09:15.0
2 Leann Green F 11:28.9
Running Peawees
1 Abby Johnson F 17:29.3
2 Cel Oka F 19:32.3
3 Elena Cabrera F 19:33.6
4 Wesley Burr M 20:17.7
5 Mama Burr F 20:22.1
6 Cheryl Abissi F 21:52.8
Peawee Relays
1 Pixel (K9)/Ajax (K9) F/M 17:34.7
2 Alex Van Brunt/Anne Van Brunt M/F 22:43.5