VOLCANO – It went off without an untoward incident of any kind, but there will never be another Ohi’a Lehua Half Marathon and 5K run quite like Saturday’s event in Volcano.
It’s a cheap point, but meaningful for context — there were 250 runners who established personal bests for this event, the inaugural run created by race director Keely McGhee, something that won’t happen again.
“Everybody wins,” McGhee said through a broad smile after completion of the event that started and ended with a light drizzle an hour or so before the sun broke through. “People were really excited about this, and I’m so happy that it worked out.
“Even the weather was good,” she said, “runners love a light rain like this, so refreshing.”
That’s a fact that was voiced by everyone questioned about the inaugural run.
Billy Barnett, 35, the Waiakea teacher and long distance running veteran, was the first place finisher who has won the former Rainforest Run Half Marathon several times before the owner pulled the plug a year ago.
A new resident of Volcano, after moving up from Mountain View, he found the course and the conditions just about perfect, finishing in 1 hour, 17.23 seconds.
Noe Waller was the first woman finisher with a time of 1:30.33, which gave her the distinction of winning the last Rainforest Half Marathon (1:32.49), and the first Ohi’a Lehua, improving her time in the process.
In the 5K, top honors went to teenagers, with 19 year-old Rylie Cabalse the overall winner in 18:55.8, and Aria Hall, 16, winning the women’s side in 24:55.6.
The new course generated better times in both events.
“It’s pretty much the same (as the Rainforest Run), but there are a few differences in the course,” Barnett said. “I’m running up here every day now, so, yeah, very comfortable and the misty rain was excellent.”
Barnett and Pat Stover, who won the last half-marathon on the old course last year (1:18.49), were running together in front for about the first two miles, then after approximately the halfway point, Barnett took off.
“We started out just at a nice easy pace,” he said, “then I ran a lot harder over the last six miles or so. I have my watch but I wasn’t really keeping up with it, I was just going by how my legs felt, and they felt pretty good all the way.”
In the women’s half-marathon, Waller contended with Bree Brown, the most decorated woman distance runner on the Big Island, but Brown isn’t quite ready for prime time after breaking her leg in a road race last year.
“Basically, for the first four and-a-half or five miles, I just sat behind (Brown) and kind of went along with her pace,” Waller said, “I knew she wasn’t 100%, but after that I just went for it, based on how I was feeling.”
At 28, Waller, a Hilo resident and a Volcano fire fighter, said sees no personal finish line, and has no plans to take it easy.
“No way,” she said when asked if she could see herself not running these events, “you run until you die, you just go for it.”
And winning this year has nothing to do with next year.
“There’s no ‘defending’ anything,” she said in response to a question about defending next year against a fully recovered Brown, “I’ll be back to do it again and that’s the only reason. But this weather? I absolutely loved it, the wetter the better, it felt great.”
Brown said she got about what she expected from the run.
“I’m not in shape after a broken leg to do what I want to do,” she said, “but it’s a process, I was doing fine until the hill, and I was fine on the hill, but coming down, I could feel the pins clicking in my ankle — pretty painful — and I had to back off, but no worries, I’m good.”
The event drew 250 runners, exceeding expectations of McGhee, who had hoped for 200. There were a few who flew in from Oahu and another on vacation from California who heard about it and jumped in at the last minute.
“Really happy with how it went,” McGhee said. “There are so many little things you need to put together for the first time, but we made it through in good shape.”
McGhee said she is investigating plans for another run in Puna, “sometime after the first of the year,” but nothing has been finalized at this point.
The event was part of the Experience Volcano Festival, a day-long celebration with a variety of demonstrations, workshops, a petting zoo, hula exhibitions, music and food. McGhee and husband Adam are part owners of Hawaii Island Racers and she also is race director for the 100% Pure Kona race.
Vendors at the site diverted 10 percent of their sales to Rapid Ohi’a Death Research, a school citizen science project run by site coordinator Xanthe Serafin, who currently has students investigating the Ambrosia Beetle vector for Rapid Ohi’a Death.
Saturday at Volcano
Half-marathon
1. Billy Barnett 30-39 1:17:23.0
2. Patrick Stover 30-39 1:19:53.4
3. David Collier 30-39 1:23:31.9
4. Jacob Fansler 40-49 1:25:57.3
5. Daniel Hill 40-49 1:27:20.6
6. Joe Fairchild 30-39 1:27:29.2
7. Brian Shiro 40-49 1:29:45.3
8. Daniel Hartong 30-39 1:30:31.2
9. Noe Waller 20-29 F 1:30:33.3
10. Joe Barcia 40-49 1:31:57.2
11. Bree Brown 30-39 F 1:31:57.8
12. Tina Eakin 40-49 F 1:34:23.2
13. Ayrton Takane 19-under 1:37:59.7
14. Kentaro Aoki 50-59 1:38:07.8
15. Shawn Mishler 50-59 1:41:00.0
16. Jodie Rosam 30-39 F 1:44:05.3
17. Jessie McCree 30-39 F 1:44:17.9
18. Darian Basacdua 20-29 1:44:23.6
19. Alex Wood 50-59 1:44:41.9
20. David Knowles 40-49 1:44:54.4
21. Patrick Heilman 40-49 1:45:02.4
22. Billy Rickards 40-49 1:45:19.3
23. Tracy Yost 40-49 1:49:10.1
24. Tamlyn Hunt 40-49 1:49:25.6
25. Trevor Swan 30-39 1:49:25.9
26. Erin Schweibish 40-49 1:49:45.2
27. Julia Scharwaechter 40-49 F 1:49:53.9
28. Nicole Lewien 20-29 F 1:49:55.5
29. Tamara Hynd 40-49 F 1:51:21.1
30. Elda Carreon 30-39 F 1:51:47.1
31. Brenda Camacho 50-59 F 1:52:18.8
32. Nicholas Tran 20-29 1:52:32.7
33. Michael Pipta 50-59 1:53:02.2
34. Steve Rataj 40-49 1:53:26.4
35. Steven Gran 40-49 1:55:38.7
36. Tawnie McDonald 50-59 F 1:55:58.3
37. Leonard Torricer 60-69 1:57:03.6
38. Shelby Kuyawa 20-29 F 1:57:45.9
39. Brooke Kinsler 30-39 F 1:58:03.6
40. JR Grant 30-39 1:58:45.0
41. Catherine Fedak 50-59 F 1:58:46.5
42. Dalton Heil 20-29 1:58:48.1
43. Nina Hasler 40-49 F 2:00:34.3
44. Kathy Spory 50-59 F 2:01:26.0
45. John Poetzel 50-59 2:02:02.8
46. Teresa Hall 50-59 F 2:03:11.9
47. Steven Pavao 60-69 2:03:14.3
48. Sharla-Ann Fujimoto 30-39 F 2:04:30.4
49. Jesse Houlding 50-59 2:04:31.2
50. Ken Bevis 60-69 2:05:39.8
51. Mariah Castro 20-29 F 2:06:05.5
52. Sanjay Kopalkar 50-59 2:06:19.7
53. Desmond Acol 40-49 2:06:50.5
54. Elizabeth Wright 60-69 F 2:09:33.4
55. Darcy May 50-59 F 2:09:53.8
56. Jessica Souder 30-39 F 2:10:12.3
57. Rachel Irving 20-29 F 2:10:39.7
58. Parker Smith 19-under 2:11:10.8
59. Tom Cross 60-69 2:11:59.8
60. Beth McAdams 50-59 F 2:12:06.8
61. Al Galiza 20-29 2:13:45.3
62. Dawna Takane 50-59 F 2:13:59.6
63. Nikka Takane 20-29 F 2:14:00.2
64. Frecia Cevallos 40-49 F 2:15:12.6
65. Dave Wasley 40-49 2:15:26.2
66. Tohmas Grant 30-39 2:16:09.5
67. Felicia Torres 40-49 F 2:17:47.9
68. Jamae K. K. Kawauchi 40-49 F 2:19:28.0
69. Jen Muller 40-49 F 2:20:05.0
70. Ajay Patel 40-49 2:20:12.1
71. Eileen Hargrave 50-59 F 2:20:32.4
72. Daryn Yamada 50-59 2:21:04.0
73. Christopher Rizzi 60-69 2:22:17.0
74. Lava People 1 60-69 2:23:39.9
75. Jessica D’Amato 20-29 F 2:23:47.3
76. Sarah Ahlers 20-29 F 2:24:33.6
77. Gerrit Ahlers 30-39 2:26:17.0
78. Jerome Bautista 30-39 2:26:36.1
79. Rosalie Nelson 30-39 F 2:27:12.2
80. Suzanne Paulsen 60-69 F 2:33:24.6
81. Ingrid Hillhouse 40-49 F 2:34:30.8
82. Crystal Ivey 30-39 F 2:38:26.5
83. Kristy Roberts 40-49 F 2:39:14.8
84. Paul Whitehouse 70+ 2:40:08.4
85. Ueda Yoshihiro 60-69 2:41:37.8
87. Tyler Collins 30-39 2:41:55.3
87. Amy Swinkels 40-49 F 2:46:08.5
88. Joe Loschiavo 70+ 2:46:24.1
89. Charles Lonergan 40-49 2:49:31.6
90. Charsima Makanui 40-49 F 2:49:52.2
91. John Kaiwi 50-59 2:50:56.7
92. Marilyn Brown 60-69 F 2:52:16.3
93. Morgen Bahurinsky 70+ F 2:54:42.4
94. Susan Tom 50-59 F 3:11:13.7
95. Wendy Minor 70+ F 3:13:39.0
96. Kevin Wassner 60-69 3:17:00.2
97. Jin Yang 40-49 F 3:20:46.7
98. Noelani De Silva 40-49 F 3:20:50.0
99. Matteo Belli 40-49 3:25:54.0
100. Kaylynne Santana 60-69 F 3:30:57.0
101. Toni Romp-Friesen 60-69 F 3:30:58.9
5K
1. Rylie Cabalse 19-under 33:53.5
2. Todd Marohnic 50-59 35:26.8
3. Ryan Williams 19-under 37:09.1
4. Bryce Harada 20-29 37:12.2
5. James Twigg-Smith 30-39 38:41.1
6. Aria Heil 19-under F 39:53.4
7. Daniela Rebhan 30-39 F 41:02.5
8. Reed Brozen 50-59 41:07.7
9. Ramaiah Ojeda 20-29 41:13.1
10. Bastian Rebhan 30-39 41:27.5
11. Caleb Crook 19-under 42:05.7
12. Asher Rataj 19-under 42:08.2
13. Cynthia Hartman 30-39 F 43:10.7
14. Jeffrey Hawk 50-59 43:12.5
15. Aubrey Hawk 50-59 F 43:15.2
16. Christian Engelhardt 50-59 43:37.3
17. Jade Ivey 19-under F 44:01.2
18. Francis Sakai-Kawada 20-29 44:24.2
19. Elyse Cummins 30-39 F 44:24.8
20. Dawn Tillery 50-59 F 44:31.3
21. Jonathan Leiner 30-39 45:16.1
22. Midori Matsuo 20-29 F 45:26.1
23. Eli Crook 19-under 45:26.5
24. Patrick Adams 50-59 45:46.0
25. Ed Gunderson 50-59 45:58.1
26. Jarvis Valera 40-49 46:16.2
27. Yuko White 40-49 F 46:16.7
28. Andrew White 40-49 46:17.1
29. Jessie Deakins 30-39 F 46:49.0
30. John Monnette 30-39 46:59.9
31. Andrea Christensen 40-49 F 47:21.4
32. Jeff Hamilton 70+ 47:45.2
33. Alex Hill 19-under 48:14.4
34. Jane Hansen 40-49 F 48:46.2
35. Fia Mattice 70+ F 48:57.8
36. Marta Ciancio 60-69 F 49:00.2
37. Jessica Hartong 30-39 F 49:17.8
38. Ethan Schmitt 19-under 49:38.1
39. Dana Fong 50-59 49:50.6
40. Ariel Imoto 20-29 F 50:00.1
41. Diana Monnette 30-39 F 50:05.3
42. Elaina Head 19-under F 50:08.7
43. Jolene Head 40-49 F 50:08.8
44. Lisa Olivarez 30-39 F 50:14.0
45. Nick Jack 20-29 50:16.4
46. Rachel Gunderson 30-39 F 50:21.3
47. Heather Yost 40-49 F 50:23.2
48. Kathy Baxter 50-59 F 50:33.3
49. Lauren Kurpita 30-39 F 50:47.4
50. Kristina Montoya-Aiona 30-39 F 50:49.9
51. Zinn 60-69 50:56.8
52. Daniel Loo 30-39 51:31.2
53. Greta Nikova 40-49 F 51:34.6
54. Kathy Sweo. 60-69 F 51:45.1
55. Margaret Wassner 60-69 F 52:45.6
56. Caroline Anderson 40-49 F 53:04.2
57. Helena Rataj 19-under F 53:16.7
58. Meredith Rataj 40-49 F 53:18.4
59. Jeannette Heil 50-59 F 53:23.3
60. Rachel Rimel 50-59 F 54:01.0
61. Linda Williams 50-59 F 54:22.6
62. Ross Hamar 30-39 54:22.8
63. Alison Hamar 30-39 F 54:24.1
64. Robin Stratton 60-69 F 54:33.2
65. Paula Hoffman-Claypool 40-49F 54:34.9
66. Rachael Graf 30-39 F 54:52.1
67. Rebecca Carpenter 30-39 F 54:54.1
68. Emily Fernandes 20-29 F 54:54.3
69. Judy Ann Williams 60-69 F 56:51.5
70. Maya Linnolt 19-under F 57:16.3
71. Lynn Tom 60-69 F 57:17.2
72. Rie Linnolt 30-39 F 57:17.5
73. Ria Rose Collins 30-39 F 57:53.5
74. Sue Schneider 60-69 F 58:42.8
75. Timothy Kale 60-69 58:56.9
76. Hauolikeola Pakele 50-59 59:01.2
77. Deborah Nissim 60-69 F 59:21.0
78. Kerstin Peppers 40-49 F 1:02:06.0
79. Bethany Andersen 30-39 F 1:02:06.1
80. Jill Weber 60-69 F 1:02:14.4
81. Rochelle Wasley 40-49 F 1:04:05.6
82. Irene Dodd 60-69 F 1:04:18.0
83. Troy Rimel 50-59 1:05:59.5
84. Michelle Starosky 50-59 F 1:06:07.1
85. Joni Dean 60-69 F 1:07:48.1
86. Dee Wiecher 70+ F 1:09:06.9
87. Pua Chamberlin 60-69 F 1:12:50.7
88. Ina Wolfe 60-69 F 1:14:05.4
89. Cathi Lux 60-69 F 1:14:06.3
90. Adam Bonus 50-59 1:14:07.2
91. Suzanne Robotham 50-59 F 1:16:42.5
92. Grace Morizono 50-59 F 1:16:43.6
93. Genelle Martin 50-59 F 1:25:43.3
94. Roseann Leiner 50-59 F 1:25:44.1
95. Robin Martin 40-49 F 1:52:07.9
Editor’s notes The half-marathon results have been modified to fix errors.