KOHALA COAST — Everything about the last year for David Wild has been pretty — well — wild.
KOHALA COAST — Everything about the last year for David Wild has been pretty — well — wild.
It’s a pun that is hard to avoid after watching Wild go to work during a triathlon with visible competitive fire sparking and crazy hair flowing in the wind.
Wild’s thrills continued Saturday as he crossed the finish line at IRONMAN 70.3-Hawaii eighth overall and third in his age group with a time of 4 hours 37 minutes and 51 seconds.
He also captured the unofficial — but prestigious — title of top local finisher.
It’s a crown he couldn’t have claimed a year ago.
Wild moved from Oakland, California to the Big Island last May to teach at Konawaena High School through the Teach for America program — a non-profit organization that places aspiring young teachers in high-need areas. Since then, he has ingrained himself into the local racing community and has been welcomed with open arms.
“Every workout was progress and a celebration of my mind, body and the ohana I have been welcomed into,” Wild said. “I’ve felt myself getting stronger, but also my bond growing with all the people who helped me and have been so supportive.”
Wild also started up the Konawaena Triathlon Club, hoping kids could use it to not only discover the sport, but also get healthy.
“I came to Hawaii to be a teacher, but I was pretty excited about the triathlon culture in Kona,” Wild said. “I think getting local kids involved and into triathlon and feeling connected to someone who is in the sport can be inspiring. Not to be a pro triathlete or anything, but to see someone pursing a passion that is healthy and wanting to do the same.”
Wild can reel off a list of names at will of all the people who have helped him along the way during his time to Kona, and expresses great gratitude for every one. However, Wild’s passion as a competitor is still very obvious.
When someone asked him about his credentials as an athlete entering Honu, even Wild admitted he nearly bit his tongue after his answer.
“I said — after Luis De La Torre and Tommy Vonach — I’m the fastest triathlete on the Big Island,” Wild said with his large, patented grin. “Once I started to think about it, I got a little nervous. But I think I backed that up today.”
Wild did, but was tested by a few other local athletes who he had on his radar before the race.
Michael Decarli (4:48:43) finished 25th overall and seventh in his 40-44 age group.
Keish Doi followed into the finishing chute next, coming in at 4:58:57, good for 58th overall and eighth in his age group.
IRONMAN World Championship finisher and former Waverider Triathlon Club member Dan Gampon may have had the most successful campaign of the day. The Kona young gun won the 18-24 division, finishing in 5:03:43 and earning a spot at the 70.3 World Championships in Zell Am See-Kaprun, Austria on Aug. 30. He finished nearly 20 minutes faster than the next finisher in his age group.
On the female side, Sara Bloom represented Kona among the top 10 finishers, coming in at 5:15:52. Bloom finished third in her 25-29 division.
Gampon appears to be the only Big Island age grouper to lock up one of the 30 spots from the event at the 70.3 World Championship, but the official list after the roll-down ceremony was not available at West Hawaii Today’s deadline.
Wild had hoped to lock up a spot at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, but despite his stellar day, a third place finish in his age group left him on the outside looking in.
“I gave myself a shot,” Wild said.
The dream is not over though. Wild said he will race in Ironman 70.3 Boise on June 13 with the hopes of making it. But for now it is back to the classroom, at least for a few days to hand out some final exams, before turning his attention fully to Boise.