PO‘IPU — Chris Stelzer finished the 10-Mile run on a 58:46 time, with a 5:52 pace, Sunday during the Kukui‘ula Canoe Club Family Fun Run and Walk at the Po‘ipu Beach Park. The time was hampered by the passing squalls,
PO‘IPU — Chris Stelzer finished the 10-Mile run on a 58:46 time, with a 5:52 pace, Sunday during the Kukui‘ula Canoe Club Family Fun Run and Walk at the Po‘ipu Beach Park.
The time was hampered by the passing squalls, holding back runners on the course, which included a 10-Mile run geared as a preview for The Kaua‘i Marathon, coming up during the Labor Day weekend.
“Where did she come from?,” asked Robin Jumper, the communications specialist for The Kaua‘i Marathon who took an early lead off the start of the 5K event. “How old is she? She passed me on the corner.”
Carolyn Price, an eighth grade student at Island School, said she has been running for about two years, her first race being a TriFest event where she and her dad Evan were photographed heading to the finish line in lei and featured in this year’s banner announcing the race.
Price was the second woman to finish the 5K, crossing on a 22:36, or 7:17 pace, and the first in her age group (8-13), followed by Jumper, the third woman at 23:01, or a 7:25 pace.
“I wasn’t even going to run,” Jumper said. “But the kids were out so I thought I would just do the 5K.”
She, along with the pack, were victimized by the driving rain accompanying the squall.
“It was cold out there,” Jumper said. “The rain was driving pretty hard and then this person passed me on the turn. I didn’t even know my number.”
First in the 5K was Ted Jadlos, crossing on a 21:02, or 6:47 pace followed by Lance Colson tripping the clock at 21:52, or a 7:03 pace, the runners having to shout their numbers at the recorders due to the rains obliterating the race numbers.
Rachel Yonemura, crossing fifth overall in the 5K, was the first woman finisher, stopping the clock at 22:23, or a 7:13 pace.
Justen Anderson followed Stelzer in the 10-Mile run, crossing on a 1:03:09, or a 6:18 pace.
Former Kaua‘i High School and collegiate runner Chelsea Smith-Wishard, now a coach with Kaua‘i High School, was the first woman finisher, crossing fifth overall on a 1:04:31, or 6:27 pace.
“I think I won the women’s race,” Smith-Wishard said. “I don’t even know my time.”
Smith-Wishard was also the first of the 20-29 age group finishers in the 10-Mile. She was followed by Mary Klene who crossed ninth overall on a 1:09:25 on a 6:56 pace for second place in the 20-29 age group as well as second in the women finishers.
Carl Newton topped the 10K run, stopping the clock at 35:45 and a 5:45 pace. He was followed by Ethan Serpa who stopped the clock at 37:44 and a 6:05 pace, first in the 14-19 age group.
Megan Newton, finishing seventh overall in the 5K, was the first woman finisher, stopping the clock at 42:50 and a 6:54 pace. She was followed by Carina Bartlett, crossing 15th overall, and crossing the line at 47:37 and a 7:40 pace.
Dean Cheney, 8, of Scottsdale, Arizona had a red “1” marked on his arm following the adults races.
“He’s got ‘1’ for a reason,” was a comment from the field as the 8-year-old set the pace for the Keiki Run which was started by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Bev Brody of Get Fit Kaua‘i.
Cheney rounded out his family’s runners, his father, Ed, mother, Tracy, and sister, Hailey Hertzog, all participating in the adult races before Dean had his opportunity, crossing first overall in the Keiki run and getting a high-five from Carvalho while his “escorts,” dad and Leroy Jumper, being ribbed by the audience.
“He finished third during last year’s race,” said Karen Griff, Dean’s grandmother. “He really liked that candy lei prize and was looking forward to doing it again.”
The Cheney ‘ohana only arrived on Kaua‘i Saturday night and turned out for the race which featured more than 200 runners participating in all three adult races, race officials noting it was the largest event, yet.
The Family Fun Run was one of two remaining events of the 10-day Koloa Plantation Days celebration, the other being the “Ukes in Paradise” free ‘ukulele competition for keiki, hosted by Keoki’s Paradise at the Po‘ipu Shopping Village.
Maria Gonzales, the business manager for Keoki’s, was celebrating her 45th birthday, running in the Family Fun Run.
“I’m not going to the ‘ukulele event, but you can tell them I ran a 9-minute mile,” the birthday girl smiled. Visit tltiming.com for full results of the 10-mile, 5K and 10K Fun Run.
