NAWILIWLI — Being in the winners’ circle was a family affair at the recent Kaua’i Ocean Festival 2000 at Nawiliwili Bay. Husband-wife team Jed and Andrea Smith of Kalihiwai took first place respectively in the men and women’s division of
NAWILIWLI — Being in the winners’ circle was a family affair at the recent
Kaua’i Ocean Festival 2000 at Nawiliwili Bay.
Husband-wife team Jed and
Andrea Smith of Kalihiwai took first place respectively in the men and women’s
division of the Kaua’i Off-Road Triathlon.
Then their three-year-old
daughter, Natalia, trophied in the HMSA Body-Boarding Contest held at
Kalapaki.
Although the event was their first triathlon, Jed Smith, 30, and
his wife Andrea, 36, have a long history of racing together.
“That’s how we
first met — during a bike race,” said Andrea. It was the Powerline Race on the
Fourth of July seven years ago, which they both won as well. The couple haven’t
missed the event since, except when Andrea was pregnant with their daughter
Natalia.
“It was great to have an event like this on Kaua’i,” said Andrea
said about the Off-Road Triathlon. “My daughter was so happy to participate —
especially when she sees mom and dad doing things — and now she had the chance
to compete too!”
Natalia may not be quite ready for the triathlon, but
perhaps soon. At two and a half, she learned to ride a bike without training
wheels, and she is the youngest one on her swim team.
The Kauai Off-Road
Triathlon attracted a total of 18 entrants and the HMSA BodyBoarding Contest a
total of 38 competitors.
The Off-Road Triathlon consisted of a 2/3 mile
swim from the end of the Nawiliwili Jetty to the sands of Kalapaki Beach.
Runners then donned their shoes for an uphill five miles past Menehune Fishpond
Lookout to their waiting bicycles, guarded by Bicycle John Tanner. Mr. Zach
Octavio of the Emergency Medical Response Team provided life safety support
along the route as well.
The 22-mile bike route went through Grove Farm
Land past Kipu and up to the Ha’upu Ridge and through the tunnel. There, the
athletes were greeted by the film crew making a “War to End all Wars” and the
athletes then continued down past Waita Reservoir, the Mill and into Koloa, up
the tunnel of trees. From there, the route returned via the Highway until
turning back into Grove Farm Lands and returning to Nawiliwili Park.
The
Smiths’ times were 2:07’39 for Ben and 2:18’47 for Andrea.
Second place
men’s division was Jason Iron with a time of 2: 11’09, and Greg Harvey was
third place with a time of 2:18’37. Second place women’s division was Lois
Lutz, just one second behind the first place women’s winner, at 2:18’11. third
place women’s division was Melissa Hall with a time of 2:23’11.
Other
finishers and their times were Paul Hepburn (2:24’56); Erin Struvness
(2:25’21); Greg Fleming (2:26’55); Bill Quintan (2:32’41); Frank Henderson
(2:34’30); Kamika Smith (2:37’21); Androcles Handy (2:43’45); Theresa Jure
(2:43’45); Barney Manaker (3:04’28); David Schad (3:08’09); and Ramon Martinez
(3:16’35).
Randy Honjo, Race Coordinator of the Off-Road Triathlon said,
“This was the first year we held the Off-Road Triathlon and we were surprised
by how many people participated.”
“We are looking forward to the
continuation of this event as a part of the Kaua’i Ocean Festival, 2001,” he
added. Next year, the Off-Road will take place on Saturday, June 23, 2001.
For more information, call Helen Juliano, 246-3809.
TGI’s Brandon
Sprague contributed to this story.
