Saturday’s seventh annual 100% Pure Kona Coffee Half Marathon proved to be another successful event with over 320 participants taking on the 13.1-mile sunrise challenge at Coconut Grove Marketplace.
The race wrapped up the 10-day festivities tied to the annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival honoring Kona’s cultural heritage of coffee pioneers, farmers, and artisans while celebrating the world’s most famous coffee bean — Kona Coffee.
The 13.1-mile footrace began on Alii Drive fronting Coconut Grove Marketplace and headed south along the scenic coastline of Alii Drive amid breathtaking views of Hualalai’s sunrise as the backdrop. Runners then encountered the most challenging part of the course — Keauhou’s rolling hills — which meant running into the infamous “Pit,” also known as the End of the World before heading back.
Jared Hixon from Gardnerville, Nevada, made quick work of the course, averaging a blistering 5:53 pace per mile to take the overall win with his time of 1 hour, 16 minutes and 56 seconds. Hixon’s finishing time is the second fastest in the event’s history with the current course record belonging to last year’s winner, John Benner (1:12:04).
Patrick Stover, who won the marathon race in 2019, maintained an even six-minute pace to finish second in 1:18:33. While Hilo’s David Collier improved upon last year’s fifth-place finishing time to secure the third spot in a great time of 1:21:55.
Kailua-Kona’s Bree Wee added another overall win to her impressive resume, winning her fourth half-marathon women’s crown in a fantastic time of 1:26:27. Also keeping it consistent was Holualoa’s Laura Ankrum, who secured her third consecutive runner-up finish with her time of 1:28:54. New Kona resident, Melissa Della Torre, rounded out the women’s podium with her time of 1:35:49.
Congratulations to all finishers of the 100% Pure Kona Coffee Half Marathon!
Coming Up:
Saturday: The Fairmont Orchid presents the 5th annual Turkey Trot at the Fairmont Orchid’s Plantation Estate. Start time for the 5K walk/run is 7:30 a.m. with morning registration beginning at 6:30 a.m.. All registration fees and donations will go to Hawaii Island’s Food Bank, The Food Basket. For more information visit https://www.fairmontorchid.com/events/turkey-trot/
Thanksgiving Thursday: Big Island Running Company presents the 18th annual Wobble Gobble Run/Walk on the Walua Trail off Lako Street. Start time for the free event is 8 a.m. for the 6.4-mile, 3.5-mile, and 1-mile run/walk. No pre-registration required. This year, organizers will not be collecting canned food donations for the Food Bank. For more information or to volunteer contact Melissa Braswell at 327-9333 or melissa@bigislandrunningcompany.com.