March 8, 1998 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
On Sunday, our local version of March Madness, the Peaman Plunge and Plod Biathlon, helped get me away from the TV so I could get some sun and exercise. The Plunge and Plod started off with a half-mile swim. Erik Winkler, Peaman and Steve McElrath quickly sprinted out to the lead. Loke McMichael, Christine Winn and Tom "Cat" Sena headed the chase pack.
As they hit the turn buoy, McElrath was first to reach the beach as he clocked in at 12 minutes and 58 seconds. Winkler followed at 13:21 and was in the lead for the individual race. Peaman was next at 13:29.
McMichael and Winn were in front for the ladies as they hit the tape in 13:49 and 13:50. Tom-Cat was next at 14:00 followed by Ken Clarkson in 14:05. Chasing McMichael and Winn in the ladies race was Kylee Sandusky who was in at 14:43, 10th overall but first for the individuals.
As the relay runners began their four-mile run Erik Winkler quickly transitioned and was in the lead for the individuals. Peaman followed in his patented mosey. Ken Clarkson also was on his way. Then suddenly Ben-Jamin Widoff sprinted past everyone leaving chaos in his wake. By the half-mile mark it looked like it would be a race between Clarkson and Widoff, with Widoff moving the fastest.
On the ladies side, Sandusky was on the road with a big lead but Maggie Grenier was also on the road and was looking strong. Millie Cooke was close behind Grenier while Shannon Shively, Jennifer Nelson and Mouse Kelley gave chase.
As the men reached the run turn Ben-Jamin had blazed his way into the lead. Clarkson was in second with Dard-Vader Aller chasing hard in third. Ben-Jamin continued to extend his lead all the way to the finish as he recorded the day's fastest run time of 23:02 and a winning time of 37:53. The win gave him his second Peaman victory in 1998. He also won the event last year.
Ken Clarkson held off Vader Aller for second in a time of 39:15. Vader crossed the line in third. Fourth went to "The Hammer" Harry Yoshida in 42:36. Fifth overall went to Tony Fitzpatrick at 43:44.
Fitzpatrick was just able to hold off his sister, Maggie Grenier, as she blasted across the line in 43:48. Grenier overtook Sandusky just before the turnaround and never looked back. Grenier's run time of 27:03 was by far the day's fastest for the ladies.
Sandusky finished next, placing second in 46:01. Hawaii Preparatory Academy's Shannon Shively used her strong run to finish in third at 46:29. Millie Cooke hung on for fourth at 47:18. fifth went to Jennifer Nelson just seconds later in 47:22.
Clay "The Colt" Bringman was in first for the Finned Pea-ple. He clocked in at 43:29. Second went to Peter Lasich at 45:19 and Mike Foster was third in 48:39.
Amy Sobiech led the finned females with her time of 49:16. Janet Higa-Miller was second in 50:26 and third went to Simmy McMichael at 52:00.
The battle for first in the Split Pea Relay race was, as usual, a good one. Steve McElrath's partner, Dusty Roads, hit the trail first but not too far behind was Peaman's partner, Jon Kunitake, and Loke McMichael's runner, Allen "Shaggy" Wagner. As the trio blazed down Alii Drive, Wagner, and his surf trunks, passed both Kunitake and Roads.
Wagner is getting ready for the upcoming high school track season and his fitness showed. He hit the tape first in a total time of 37:21 with a split run of 23:32. Kunitake was next at 38:06. Roads hung on for third at 38:12.
In the Sweet Pea Baby Stroller division, Steve Hicks and his daughter remained undefeated in 1998 with their time of 1:04:02.
Sunday's Pea Wea Champ was Meilyn Quitiquit. she made her way through the 150 yard swim and one mile run in 17:03. Erika Aters took second in 17:29. Third went to Ashlyn Abell at 17:33. Kaylyn Kilkuskie took fourth at 17:47 and Andrew Kahl ended up fifth with a time of 43:59.
Kahl's time was so much slower than the others because he decided to run the full four mile course. Watch for Kahl to keep on getting faster. He's got a great attitude and really seems to be having fun out there.
Sunday's final honor went to Karl "Happy Cat" Honma who was presented the Perpetual Pea. Honma is a 1997 inductee to the Peaman Hall of Fame and his decades of running have been simply amazing. Honma just recently won his 100th "open to the public" running race and when not racing is always the first to volunteer. Honma gets to enjoy the Power of the Pea until May 10 when once again it will be passed on to another most Pea-like person.
Send comments to Peaman
3/28/98