Luis De La Torre is a Kailua-Kona repairman, and he worked on a job in East Hawaii the night before winning the 2nd annual Hilo Triathlon on Sunday.
Luis De La Torre is a Kailua-Kona repairman, and he worked on a job in East Hawaii the night before winning the 2nd annual Hilo Triathlon on Sunday.
In fact, De La Torre couldn’t celebrate long after posting a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 39 seconds in the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40k bike and 10k run event at James Kealoha Beach Park.
He still had more work to do before heading home. He was on the job until 10 p.m. Saturday and woke up early on race day Sunday morning.
It was all in a day’s work for De La Torres, 47, who started competing as 16-year-old and figures he’s done close to 500 events.
That experience and a good pair of strong legs helped him prevail over runner-up David Wild, who was faster in the water and run, but not the bike.
De La Torre clipped Wild, 28, on his hot wheels in 1:01:40 to 1:03:45, charging by on mile 5 in the middle portion of the event.
“I love being fit and I love it as my lifestyle,” De La Torre said. “But being fit takes a lot of time, commitment and discipline.”
Winona Chen, 24, a Kailua-Kona accountant, was eighth and took the women’s title in 2:31:08, claiming her first Olympic-sized triathlon.
Defending men’s champion Chris Gregory was fifth in 2:23:16, while defending women’s champ Rani Henderson is pregnant and didn’t compete.
De La Torre holds a proud last name. It goes back three generations from Mexico City to Arizona and now Kailua-Kona, honoring his maternal grandmother.
There were 200 participants, and 157 finishers last year under rough ocean conditions. The water was calm, but not so three days ago when race director Joe Wedemann considered turning the event into a biathlon because of high surf.
Wedemann and his brother and finish-line director Bob Wedeman (due to a technicality their last names are different) are shooting for a goal of 500 competitors.
De La Torre thinks the Hilo Triathlon is a hidden gem, pointing out that there’s a large group of Oahu triathletes who are unaware of the beauty and safety of the Wedemann-Wedeman co-production.
“The water today was pure joy, and the course is beautiful,” De La Torre said. “The course is a lot safer than anything on Oahu. I’m hoping it will be an inspiration for a giant pool of triathletes on Oahu to come over.”
More than talking about his long history of accomplishments, De La Torre wanted to give a shout-out to the thankless job of Joe Wedemann and Bob Wedeman and their army of volunteers.
“I’m really grateful for Joe and all his volunteers who set things up,” De La Torre said. “It was fun and I enjoyed it. It was like having a catered training day.”
Chen’s bowl
Last year, Chen was third and all her medals go into a bowl at home. But most likely her Hilo Triathlon champion medal will be on top of the pile.
She got the racing bug in 2012, and has competed in 15 triathlons. Chen also did the Honolulu Marathon twice and the Ironman last year in her back yard.
Chen used to teach an indoor cycling class, and long wondered what if the bike wasn’t bolted on a stand.
“The triathlon is a challenging sport, and I’m growing in it, and it never gets easier,” she said. “But it’s fun.”
Like De La Torre, Chen was touched most by Joe and Bob’s army of aloha volunteers.
“I’m so thankful. There were so many great volunteers out there,” she said. “They were awesome and cheerful. It was just amazing that they were giving energy to everybody.”
Division Swim Bike Run Overall
1 Luis De La Torre 45-49 :25:14 1:01:40 :39:45 2:06:39
2 David Wild 25-29 :25:10 1:03:45 :39:05 2:08:00
3 Mike Decarli 40-44 :27:34 1:06:35 :42:24 2:16:33
4 Mikey Brown 35-39 :30:22 1:07:14 :41:26 2:19:02
5 Chris Gregory 25-29 :27:22 1:17:22 :38:32 2:23:16
6 Dan Gampon 20-24 :27:26 1:12:37 :46:05 2:26:08
7 Edward Ignacio 35-39 :31:10 1:12:33 :47:12 2:30:55
8 Winona Chen 25-29 :28:49 1:15:32 :46:47 2:31:08
9 Jon Jokiel 50-54 :30:52 1:13:13 :47:11 2:31:16
10 Lawrence Barrett 1-19 :25:10 1:20:46 :47:35 2:33:31
11 Marq Prince 50-54 :32:56 1:14:58 :49:53 2:37:47
12 William McMahon 55-59 :35:21 1:13:54 :49:18 2:38:33
13 Mike Sullivan 35-39 :37:16 1:21:15 :42:18 2:40:49
14 Jesse Ebersole 45-49 :33:48 1:15:03 :53:43 2:42:34
15 Lee Carter 55-59 :32:52 1:17:03 :53:54 2:43:49
16 Michael Dishman 30-34 :30:49 1:18:57 :55:27 2:45:13
17 Weston Willard 35-39 :33:30 1:23:06 :50:00 2:46:36
18 Henoch Heimana 30-34 :31:12 1:18:45 :58:20 2:48:17
19 An Uniamoto 30-34 :32:06 1:25:52 :52:13 2:50:11
20 Adam Busek 50-54 :30:27 1:21:43 :58:19 2:50:29
21 Jason Nixon 50-54 :30:33 1:23:02 :57:46 2:51:21
22 John Ferdico 45-49 :32:33 1:26:26 :53:20 2:52:19
23 Satoshi Matsumoto 45-49 :39:48 1:22:49 :50:06 2:52:43
24 Jim Budde 70 & Over :25:03 1:26:23 1:02:00 2:53:26
25 Serena Puaokalani 45-49 :30:50 1:28:03 :55:08 2:54:01
26 Ragan Leslie 1-19 :32:27 1:30:02 :53:09 2:55:38
27 Gerd Weber 65-69 :33:53 1:19:23 1:04:48 2:58:04
28 James Sakai 55-59 :35:31 1:20:44 1:02:10 2:58:25
29 Mercedes Decarli 20-24 :28:21 1:28:56 1:01:10 2:58:27
30 Griffith Yamaguchi 55-59 :32:46 1:22:16 1:03:42 2:58:44
31 Samuel Smith 20-24 :31:27 1:26:29 1:01:00 2:58:56
32 Kimberly Pierce 35-39 :29:05 1:35:48 :54:07 2:59:00
33 Bruce Wacker 65-69 :30:05 1:31:42 1:00:54 3:02:41
34 Yoshihiro Maruyama 40-44 :38:44 1:28:09 :56:30 3:03:23
35 Alex Griffin 25-29 :49:39 1:25:54 :49:47 3:05:20
36 Amanda Degraeve 35-39 :33:17 1:32:28 :59:45 3:05:30
37 Yoko Hayano 50-54 :37:05 1:31:45 :59:02 3:07:52
38 Nicole Mailhot 30-34 :32:31 1:38:06 :57:57 3:08:34
39 JP Swanson 30-34 :32:14 1:26:10 1:10:30 3:08:54
40 Sam Gibson 1-19 :34:53 1:26:55 1:07:47 3:09:35
41 Rudy Navor 50-54 :41:07 1:31:01 :58:31 3:10:39
42 Madeleine Budde 55-59 :33:15 1:36:34 1:00:53 3:10:42
43 Scott Oberg 35-39 :39:24 1:28:32 1:04:08 3:12:04
44 Jon Boteilho 40-44 :35:02 1:29:16 1:09:14 3:13:32
45 Katie Rice 40-44 :33:58 1:39:47 1:00:57 3:14:42
46 Stephen Petasky 35-39 :42:59 1:24:54 1:07:39 3:15:32
47 Susanne Lyle 40-44 :37:00 1:47:26 :51:18 3:15:44
48 Meggie Olson 25-29 :42:41 1:30:19 1:04:33 3:17:33
49 David Furtado 30-34 :49:46 1:26:29 1:01:48 3:18:03
50 Ronald Tiner 45-49 :38:39 1:44:23 :55:39 3:18:41
51 Frecia Cevallos 40-44 :37:13 1:34:20 1:07:12 3:18:45
52 Sean Tamura 30-34 :36:34 1:41:15 1:04:06 3:21:55
53 Michael Traub 60-64 :36:50 1:39:24 1:06:01 3:22:15
54 Mark Lewis 40-44 :33:15 1:28:33 1:20:33 3:22:21
55 Hiroaki Sasabuchi 45-49 :36:48 1:32:03 1:13:37 3:22:28
56 Sharlee Cotter 55 59 :36:57 1:38:09 1:07:53 3:22:59
57 Jeremy Riddle 25-29 :39:55 1:28:24 1:15:55 3:24:14
58 Donald Alfiche 45-49 :32:34 1:35:57 1:15:53 3:24:24
59 Lauren Rusert 25-29 :38:41 1:37:54 1:08:24 3:24:59
60 Roy Dollwet 50-54 :33:26 1:36:09 1:16:47 3:26:22
61 Catherine Spina Finned :24:39 1:46:56 1:15:36 3:27:11
62 Robert Puaokalani 55-59 :32:31 1:31:37 1:24:12 3:28:20
63 Janet Higa-Miller 55-59 :41:37 1:32:30 1:14:27 3:28:34
64 Cathy Fedak 50-54 :37:26 1:39:05 1:13:18 3:29:49
65 Guillermo Jaramillo 60-64 :38:48 1:28:11 1:24:27 3:31:26
66 Sheareen Gedayloo 55-59 :35:34 1:39:57 1:16:48 3:32:19
67 Daniel Junker 50-54 :38:45 1:29:33 1:25:09 3:33:27
68 Jenna Nakao 30-34 :49:21 1:41:13 1:03:06 3:33:40
69 Mike Hamilton 60-64 :39:37 1:32:43 1:23:19 3:35:39
70 Megan Lewis 40-44 :36:52 1:49:00 1:10:37 3:36:29
71 Daniel Volpe 35-39 :33:37 1:46:03 1:17:23 3:37:03
72 Samuel Miller 35-39 :39:46 1:38:30 1:18:52 3:37:08
73 Edward Ignacio 45-49 :38:14 1:23:00 1:36:38 3:37:52
74 Rachel Mason 35-39 :46:31 1:33:52 1:17:37 3:38:00
75 Ellen Jackson 60-64 :38:34 1:43:38 1:15:51 3:38:03
76 Kelly Hudik 30-34 :37:21 1:33:31 1:27:17 3:38:09
77 Gerard Callo 50-54 :39:58 1:36:57 1:25:49 3:42:44
78 Lee Otani 60-64 :35:00 1:43:32 1:25:06 3:43:38
79 Selena Summer Maxwell 35-39 :36:02 1:43:40 1:24:06 3:43:48
80 Christopher Harper Finned :38:21 1:39:48 1:25:42 3:43:51
81 Nicholas Ackerman Finned :35:13 1:44:53 1:24:55 3:45:01
82 Sarah Mitchell 30-34 :33:56 1:57:31 1:14:21 3:45:48
83 Damien Stack 1-19 :01:32 1:30:48 1:14:13 3:46:33
84 Maxine Lauck 25-29 :36:43 1:50:49 1:19:22 3:46:54
85 Patrick Du Monceaux 60-64 :44:37 1:33:15 1:29:53 3:47:45
86 N/A 25-29 :39:50 1:45:55 1:23:01 3:48:46
87 Sarah Howard 35-39 :45:24 1:52:42 1:11:59 3:50:05
88 Zech Decleene 1-19 :37:59 1:49:12 1:23:35 3:50:46
89 Kevin Wagner 40-44 :49:47 1:43:07 1:19:21 3:52:15
90 Douglass Adams 55-59 :38:28 1:58:36 1:15:42 3:52:46
91 Thea Palley 35-39 :45:58 1:44:52 1:22:47 3:53:37
92 Susan Kendall 55-59 :39:23 1:50:04 1:24:31 3:53:58
93 Hannah Decleene 1-19 :28:05 2:04:50 1:23:19 3:56:14
94 Anna Jakobsson 40-44 :53:29 1:54:34 1:09:49 3:57:52
95 James Tuscany 60-64 :32:10 1:51:09 1:35:11 3:58:30
96 David Mattice 55-59 :39:07 1:52:15 1:30:40 4:02:02
97 Michael Christie 50-54 :50:21 1:41:11 1:35:18 4:06:50
98 Kate Nawahine 45-49 :43:20 1:50:37 1:33:46 4:07:43
99 Ferdinand Babas 40-44 :44:43 1:26:06 1:59:55 4:10:44
100 Stephen Fraser 65-69 :40:30 1:45:33 1:49:51 4:15:54
101 Lisa Bryant Finned :38:42 2:08:02 1:32:11 4:18:55
102 Ronald Koehler 70 & Over :32:36 1:51:03 1:57:09 4:20:48
103 Billy Kenoi 45-49 :39:32 2:02:37 1:41:43 4:23:52
104 Ellie Sumic 45-49 1 :02:09 1:47:41 1:36:25 4:26:15
105 Desmond Spencer 25-29 :45:50 2:12:12 1:49:00 4:47:02
106 Wayne Kawakami 55-59 :57:19 2:19:47 1:55:03 5:12:09
Relays
1. Joe Barcia :25:34 1:04:39 :43:26 2:13:39
Robert Patey
Stephen Hunter
2. Jonathan Ucker :23:25 1:11:52 :39:16 2:14:33
Josh Mason
N.A
3 Ashley Rynkewicz :25:29 1:07:40 :53:08 2:26:17
Gene Rynkewicz
Cindy Fuke
4 Mina Poppas :22:45 1:15:54 :48:49 2:27:28
George Poppas
Benjamin Poppas
5 Raven Domingo :25:26 1:24:47 :48:05 2:38:18
Marshall Freitas
Josiah Kumpel
6 Kevin Young :33:53 1:11:02 :57:55 2:42:50
Name not on file
Scott Meng
7 Jim Mellon :22:25 1:27:31 :55:29 2:45:25
Richard Camp
Richard Camp
8 Beata Tou :29:10 1:25:55 :50:27 2:45:32
Doug Veracruz
#209 Runner
9 Eric Rhodes #203 :25:20 1:22:25 1:05:15 2:53:00
Barbie Doll
Dard Aller
10 Kevin Nishimoto :34:13 1:36:25 :57:33 3:08:11
Sammy Sampaga
Kyle Quilausing
11 Stephen Petasky :42:59 1:24:41 1:07:45 3:15:25
Carrie Petasky
Carrie Petasky
12 Christine O’Gorman :36:42 1:31:24 1:10:40 3:18:46
Sheryl Cobb
David Cobb
13 Sydney Barcia :40:30 1:35:53 1:02:53 3:19:16
Sage Barcia
Hayley Barcia
14 Aleja Rivera :29:00 2:13:58 1:00:50 3:43:48
Colleen Fratinardo
Maria Fratinardo
15 Kaleo Pilago :29:56 2:08:12 1:09:10 3:47:18
Kel Christensen
Ashley Drake
16 Tom Dement :28:29 2:19:41 1:00:24 3:48:34
Mary Bowman-Dement
Lauren Dement
17 David Leach :39:32 2:02:13 1:08:51 3:50:36
Jeremy Agag
Shanon Hopkins
18 Joanna Farinas :53:57 2:09:58 1:06:30 4:10:25
Robert Saludares
Lorie Saludares