Twenty years ago, Ysabel Thomas walked slowly, but steadily into the water off Kaiakeakua Beach. It was the Mother’s Day Peaman Biathlon and Thomas, whose pregnant belly overshadowed her petite 5-foot-2 frame, was due at any moment with her first baby.
Twenty years ago, Ysabel Thomas walked slowly, but steadily into the water off Kaiakeakua Beach. It was the Mother’s Day Peaman Biathlon and Thomas, whose pregnant belly overshadowed her petite 5-foot-2 frame, was due at any moment with her first baby.
“It was May 13 and it was my due date,” Thomas said. “I was not an athlete then and it was the first day that I ever did a race in my life. I didn’t really know how to swim but I knew I could make it because I had been in the water during my pregnancy for nine months. I swam the whole race breaststroke.”
Peaman recalled the mother-to-be radiated with confidence and was determined to swim amid the chaotic thrashing of the ¾-mile distance. Ocean race starts of Peaman events have often been compared to an Ironman start. It’s like being in a washing machine, and no one is spared.
“Man, I’ll never forget that day,” Peaman said. “Ysabel was so huge, and we were all so happy for her. She only completed the swim on that day, and she was the first to do it that pregnant.”
Six days later, Thomas gave birth to her son, Nikolas.
“Nikolas wasn’t born an athlete on that day, but an athlete was,” she said. From that day forward, Thomas began training and competing regularly in races and Peaman events, eventually becoming an Ironman World Championship finisher in 2002, and a multiyear Peaman Championship series women’s winner.
To commemorate Thomas’ feat all those years ago, her consistent participation in Peaman events over the last 20 years, and to recognize the mother and athlete that she is, Peaman presented Thomas with the Perpetual Pea — an honor bestowed on individuals or families that epitomizes love, family, friendships and the spirit of aloha for the Big Island community.
“What’s cool about it is, this will be the 200th time I’ve passed on the Perpetual Pea in the 27 years of Peaman events,” Peaman said. “Ysabel’s first Peaman was 20 years ago, and her son Niko will turn 20 in just a few days from now. It certainly has come full circle for Ysabel.”
Early morning rains dissipated to give racers a peek at a few rays of sunshine for Polar Bear’s Pinto Bean and Pinata Biathlon featuring a 3/4-mile swim and 3.1-mile run on Alii Drive.
First to exit the water and completing just the swim portion of the event was high school swimming phenom, Cara Jernigan, who finished in a swift time of 18 minutes and 2 seconds. Next to run up the beach was Daniel Manzo in 18:10, followed by Hawaii’s newest professional triathlete, Ben Williams, with a fast time of 18:13.
In the full course individual race for first, 14-year old Cody Ranfranz, who has quickly become a top contender at these local events, used a fast swim to race up the beach as the overall men’s leader before heading out for the run. On a high chase to catch Ranfranz over the 3.1-mile course was J.C. Turner, women’s leader Anita Leao, John Howerton, Kevin Moats and Jennifer Stabrylla.
Out on Alii Drive and with nearly a mile left, Turner, a former collegiate cross-country runner, used his experience to take the lead and finish first in a great time of 41:09. Ranfranz hung tough to finish in second place at 41:40. Rounding out the men’s third spot was Moats in 43:25.
In the women’s race, I managed to take the lead from Leao before the halfway mark on the run, to finish with a time of 42:50, and just in time to chase my 13-month old son. Leao, who is gearing up for Ironman 70.3 Hawaii at the end of the month, was next in 44:36. In third place was Stabrylla at 46:15.
The team of Ben Williams and Kerstin Busse took the overall title in the Split Pea relay division with their combined time of 40:50. Finishing first for the runners was Austin Randerson in a great time of 29:26, who was followed closely by Paul Randerson in 29:27.
It was a close finish for the top three in the Pea Wee division of a 200-yard swim and 1-mile run. Kona’s Caleb Westfall Jr. used a last-second surge to claim victory in 10:41. Two clicks back was Hilo’s Kanaipono Eckart in 10:43, followed closely by Alec Ankrum in 10:52.
Hilo’s Lainey Eckart continued her dominance in the Pea Wee division, winning her third biathlon of the year with her speedy time of 12:13. Kona’s Hanna White was next in 20:18, and Jillian Withrow placed third at 24:40.
Topping the Pea Wee Split Peas relay division was Bree Wee and her son Kainoa with their combined time of 30:43. First for the 200-yard swim was Lilo Fyrileiv in 3:37, and Brett Berges won the 1-mile run in 8:08.
Perpetual Pea recipient, Thomas, crossed the finish line together with her other half, Michael Traub, in 56:58.
“I have so much admiration and respect for Peaman and for everything that he does,” Thomas said. “Peaman is the spirit of the community.”
On the previous day, Hawaii Cycling Club hosted the Upolu Training Time Trial, a 15.5-mile cycling test that took riders from Kawaihae to the Upolu Airport sign just before Hawi.
This course is considered the most challenging bike segment of the upcoming Ironman Hawaii 70.3 race. A combination of gusty headwinds and crosswinds that frequent undulating hills, and the 5-mile climb to Upolu Airport has put many well-seasoned athletes in the hurt box.
Saturday’s relatively calm conditions made for ideal racing as cyclists took off with a vengeance on 30-second intervals to ensure one’s individual effort against the clock.
After the pedal pushing was complete, Kona’s Penn Henderson blazed through the finish line in a course record time of 33:36, averaging a speed of 27.68 miles per hour. Sean Maynard set the previous record time of 40:04 in 2012.
Next to sprint over the finish line was Waikoloa’s Maxfield La Fortune in 35:53, followed by Hilo’s Chris Gregory in third at 38:04.
Kona’s Bree Wee breezed through the finish line to top the female division and set a women’s record in a stellar time of 39:56. Wee’s fast split knocked off Roberta Hickman’s 2012 record of 46:17. In second place was Kym Kiser with her time of 41:52, and Jessica Marcote in third at 52:14.
Also on Saturday was the annual Hawaii Island Visitor Industry Charity Fun Run &Walk at Mauna Lani. The popular event drew more than 200 participants for the 3.5-mile run that meandered through the resort area and finished at the Shops at Mauna Lani. Live entertainment and food demos followed — all to benefit area charities.
Topping the men’s division was Will Savage who cruised through the finish line in a swift time of 22:09. Close behind and making a strong comeback to the racing scene was Tim Robinson with a great time of 22:36. In third place was Hiuoli Akau at 23:16.
Pahoa’s Heather Scarbrough, mom to sons Kaili, 8, and Lihau, 2, claimed the women’s title with her speedy time of 23:09. Next was Kona’s Erin Stephens in 23:55, and rounding out the women’s top three was Melody Nietfeld of Kapaau in 25:53.
It turned out to be a true celebration for all Big Island mamas racing over Mother’s Day weekend.