Keoua Canoe Club achieved a milestone on Saturday as it held the 40th annual Mac-A-Thon 10K and 5K footraces on the Old Government Road fronting Honaunau Bay.
The Mac-A-Thon is the Hawaii Island’s oldest annual 3.1-mile and 6.1-mile footrace and it also happens to be the island’s only barefoot footrace. Famous for its post-race activities, Saturday’s event attracted 300 participants who were treated to a macadamia nut pancake breakfast, live entertainment, and silent auction with proceeds benefitting various community organizations.
Recent Big Island International Marathon winner, Hilo’s David Collier, and Kailua-Kona’s Jantzen Hing quickly separated themselves from the field to engage in a friendly battle over the undulating 6.1-mile paved course of the Old Government Road.
In the end, it was Collier who was victorious, winning the Mac-A-Thon title in a blazing time of 36 minutes and 27 seconds. Hing kept it close by being only a few strides back, to take second place by seven seconds for a time of 36:34. Kailua-Kona’s Danny Friebel secured the third spot with his time of 38:10.
Kailua-Kona’s Bree Wee took top honors in the wahine division, winning in a fabulous time of 39:40. Both Wee and Collier used the 10K race as their final tune-up for Sunday’s Hapalua Half Marathon “Chase Race” over on Oahu. The next two female podium spots went to Kailua-Kona’s Melissa Della Torre and Maria Cicio from Baton Rouge, La., with their times of 41:02 and 45:09 respectively.
The 5K footrace turned out to be equally as exciting with Waikoloa’s Daniel Hill taking the win with his time of 18:31. Volcano’s Lyman Perry finished in second place in 18:56, with fellow Volcano resident, Todd Marohnic in third at 20:23.
For the women, Hilo’s Lauren Runnels blazed through the 3.1-mile course to win gold with her time of 21:58. Brooklyn Schlunt from Belvedere, Calif., claimed silver in 24:07, with Kailua-Kona’s Laura Yamasaki taking bronze with her time of 25:17.
The Keoua Honaunau Canoe Club is a nonprofit organization and one of the oldest canoe clubs in Hawaii. So mark your calendar for next year’s Mac-A-Thon event slated for Easter Eve, March 30, 2024.