Runnin’ with Rani: Big Island Time Trial Championships

The Hawaii Cycling Club ended their year on a high note as 30 cyclists competed in the Big Island Time Trial Championships held on Dec. 11.

The popular cycling event featured a rolling 15.6-mile route that began at the bottom of Kaiminani Drive and finished just before the entrance to the Waikoloa Landfill. It was also the club’s sixth successful individual time trial event, a huge step forward, as Big Island outdoor sporting events continue to navigate through COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

The Dec. 11 BITT Championships did not disappoint as two of the island’s elite cyclists, Kailua-Kona’s Sean Maynard and Waikoloa’s Daniel Hill, battled it out on Queen Kaahumanu Highway under clear, blue skies and light winds.

Both physically fit and 50 years of age, the only difference turned out to be aerodynamics, as one competed on a road bike and the other on a time trial bike. The time trial bike won.

For a second consecutive year, Hill claimed the overall win with his sizzling time of 33 minutes and 41 seconds for an average speed of 27.8 miles per hour. Maynard’s time placed him in second at 34:24, with the husband-and-wife tandem team of Chris and Rachelle DeMarchi coming in third overall at 35:27.

Finishing in third place in the men’s individual race was Kailua-Kona’s Michael DeCarli in 37:06, followed by Volcano’s Todd Marohnic in 37:42, and Tobias Olney who rounded out the top five with his time of 39:05.

Papaaloa’s Melissa Schad claimed her first BITT Championship crown in a stellar time of 39:18 for an average speed of 23.8 miles per hour. Britni Bakk had the next fastest female time of 40:38, with Lynette Noble in third place with her time of 46:14.

An honorable mention goes to Kailua-Kona’s John Barnett, who at a young 80 years of age, finished the 15.6-mile time trial race with a speedy time of 52:16. Barnett has always impressed all with his ever-youthful ability to compete in triathlons, running races and hard-core cycling events.

Another impressive group who also represented well was the competitive 70-79 age group. Leading the way was Gerald Gruber (77-years) who finished in 42:28, followed by Andrew Loeb (73-years) in 47:05, Gerd Weber (72-years) in 47:48, Harry Yoshida (73-years) in 52:01, Wendy Minor (76-years) in 54:37, Paul Whitehouse (73-years) in 55:27, and Toni Romp-Friesen (70-years) at 59:51.

Congratulations to all who competed in the Big Island Time Trial Championships!

Big Island Time Trial Championships

Place, Name, Team Name, Age, Gender, Time, Pace (mph)

1 Daniel Hill, Hawaii Cycling Club, 50, Male, 33:41.3, 27.8

2 Sean Maynard, 50, Male, 34:24.9, 27.2

3 Chris_Rachelle Demarchi, Monster Racing Team, 50, Female/Male, 35:27.0, 26.4

4 Michael Decarli, 46, Male, 37:06.5, 25.2

5 Todd Marohnic, Hawaii Cycling Club, 62, Male, 37:42.0, 24.8

6 Tobias Olney, Monster Racing Team, 54, Male, 39:05.7, 23.9

6 Ian Hersey, Hawaii Cycling Club, 59, Male, 39:05.7, 23.9

8 Melissa Schad, Hawaii Cycling Club, 45, Female, 39:18.5, 23.8

9 Britni Bakk, 54, Female, 40:38.5, 23.0

10 Gerald Gruber, 77, Male, 42:28.0, 22.0

11 Dale Mount, 60, Male, 42:57.6, 21.8

12 Matt Stevens, Hawaii Cycling Club, 39, Male, 45:41.9, 20.5

13 Lynette Noble, Cupcake Cartel, 42, Female, 46:14.2, 20.2

14 Chris Godzicki, Hawaii Cycling Club, 52, Male, 46:25.0, 20.2

15 Andrew Loeb, 73, Male, 47:05.2, 19.9

16 Erin Rene, Hawaii Cycling Club, 46, Female, 47:06.4, 19.9

17 Greta Dufour, 34, Female, 47:26.0, 19.7

18 Yun Godzicki, Hawaii Cycling Club, 48, Female, 47:37.4, 19.7

19 Gerd Weber, Hawaii Cycling Club, 72, Male, 47:48.7, 19.6

20 Robert Carlin, TFC, 58, Male, 48:25.0, 19.3

21 Brenda Bettencourt, Dixie Devil, 63, Female, 49:28.0, 18.9

22 Beth McAdams, 56, Female, 50:20.2, 18.6

23 Jim Lisius, Hawaii Cycling Club, 66, Male, 51:52.4, 18.0

24 Harry Yoshida, Hawaii Cycling Club, 73, Male, 52:01.2, 18.0

25 John Barnett, Hawaii Cycling Club, 80, Male, 52:16.1, 17.9

26 Lori Montgomery, 63, Female, 52:43.8, 17.8

27 Wendy Minor, Hawaii Cycling Club, 76, Female, 54:37.8, 17.1

28 Paul Whitehouse, 73, Male, 55:27.9, 16.9

29 Frank Snow, 69, Male, 58:43.4, 15.9

30 Toni Romp-Friesen, 70, Female, 59:51.9, 15.6