WAIKOLOA — Usually, the speediest route in a race is a straight line.
Maile Lawson chose a slightly longer path at the Cinco de Mayo Splash, but gave herself enough cushion to come away with the victory in the 1-mile open water race at Anaehoomalu Bay on Saturday morning.
The speedy Hawaii Preparatory Academy high school student reached the beach finish line in 20 minutes and 47 seconds.
“I saw the buoy but kind of drifted, but the water patrol helped me back to where I needed to be,” Lawson said. “I went sideways at the end, which isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it worked out.”
Close behind Lawson was fellow young gun, Weylin Foo. Foo finished in 21:04 as the second overall and first male finisher.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Foo said. “This is the first year I have been able to do this well.”
Ku’uleionalani Patterson (third overall, 21:12) and Tori Oshiro (fourth overall (21:19) rounded out the female podium. Jeff Maki (sixth overall, 21:22) and Silas Wiley (seventh overall, 21:49) were the second and third place male swimmers.
The race had 187 finishers, ranging from the 10-14 age division to 70-and-over.
The Splash is the first part of the Big Island’s Triple Crown of open water swimming. The summer-series also includes the Hapuna Roughwater Swim on June 18, and wraps up with the King’s Swim on July 4. After the conclusion of the King’s Swim, awards will be handed out to the top male and female swimmers with the lowest cumulative time between all three events.
Youth leading the pack has been a trend at the open water races on the Big Island. Outside of last year’s triple crown winner Daniel Kniseley — a retired lifeguard who wasn’t present Saturday — the lead pack is usually made up of many standouts from local swim clubs.
Only two finishers in the top 10 were older than 18. As for the winners, Lawson is wrapping up her freshman year at Hawaii Prep, while Foo will enter high school next year.
The open ocean aspect of the race adds obvious twists with conditions not found in a pool. Lawson enjoyed seeing a few other things not found in a pool, turning the race into a personal game of swim bingo.
“I saw a manta ray and an eel. I think those were the only two animals I saw,” Lawson said. “I enjoy it. You get a bit of push coming back in, which is a nice ease up from swimming out. It’s a lot different than swimming in a pool. Plus you might get to see something.”
The race also serves as some good training for Lawson, who will be part of an elite eight-person team from Hawaii that will be heading to Oceania Championships in late June in Fiji. She was one of only four girls selected in the state. The team will be coached by Steve Borowski, who had a front row seat to watch his pupil finish first at Saturday’s race.
“She’s a character and just a great swimmer,” Borowski said. “She really won handily today.”
Saturday
1-mile swim
Overall Male
1 Weylin Foo Kailua Kona, HI :21:04
2 Jeff Maki Hawi, HI :21:22
9 & Under Male
1 Xavier Rose Kailua Kona, HI :29:06
2 Archer Ankrum Holualoa, HI :30:57
3 Beaudin Schad Papaaloa, HI :41:59
10 – 14 Male
1 Silas Wiley Kailua Kona, HI :21:49
2 Brock Imonen Kamuela, HI :22:20
3 Kai Griley Kamuela, HI :22:28
4 Aiden Ankrum Holualoa, HI :22:36
5 Duke Becker Kailua Kona, HI :23:44
6 Finnigan Morton Kailua Kona, HI :23:57
7 Nolan Morton Kailua Kona, HI :24:01
8 Luka Wohl Kailua Kona, HI :24:29
9 Joby Mangca Kailua Kona, HI :24:39
10 Kanaipono Eckart Hilo, HI :26:31
11 Wesley Monty Jr Kailua Kona, HI :27:02
12 Jake Maki Hawi, HI :28:21
13 Cameron Stuart Kamuela, HI :28:21
14 Keaulana Haserot Kailua Kona, HI :28:35
15 Quincy Tamaribuchi Kailua Kona, HI :29:35
16 Cameron Cornforth Kailua Kona, HI :29:50
17 Connor Aparicio-Bill Holualoa, HI :31:15
18 Alec Ankrum Holualoa, HI :33:18
19 Tate Thoman Kailua Kona, HI :37:26
15 – 18 Male
1 Nolan Grossman Holualoa, HI :22:18
2 Asher Robertson Kamuela, HI :22:34
3 Gregory Kathe Kailua Kona, HI :22:48
4 Josiah Randerson Kailua Kona, HI :24:31
5 Kaimana Stewart Kamuela, HI :25:01
19 – 24 Male
1 Daniel Manzo Kailua Kona, HI :22:40
2 Dan Gampon Holualoa, HI :25:51
25 – 29 Male
1 Andrew Colson Waikoloa, HI :23:25
2 Kien Aveiro Kailua Kona, HI :27:54
3 Gus Foulk Kailua Kona, HI :33:17
4 Gary Romero Honokaa, HI :34:08
30 – 34 Male
1 Keolalani Oka Oka Kailua Kona, HI :23:56
2 Kristopher Whiting Kailua Kona, HI :28:01
3 Mathew Givens Waikoloa, HI :28:19
4 Alika Hoomana Kailua Kona, HI :30:43
35 – 39 Male
1 Nolan Yamaki Hilo, HI :27:49
2 Erik Basden Kailua Kona, HI :36:34
3 Kamuela Plunkett Kailua Kona, HI :43:17
40 – 44 Male
1 Trent Fischer Waikoloa, HI :22:34
2 Colin Cornforth Kailua Kona, HI :29:53
3 Adam Ankrum Holualoa, HI :30:57
4 Kevin Lannen Kailua Kona, HI :37:54
45 – 49 Male
1 Ed Doherty Waikoloa, HI :22:23
2 Brent Imonen Kamuela, HI :22:41
3 Danny Becker Kailua Kona, HI :24:12
4 Michael Smith Kailua Kona, HI :25:20
5 Ed Wetherell Waikoloa, HI :26:08
6 Charlie Becerra Kailua Kona, HI :26:54
7 Hiro Yanagihara Pahoa, HI :28:05
8 Mog Mathier Kailua Kona, HI :29:43
9 Eric Wyatt Hilo, HI :31:49
10 Jay Keen Kailua Kona, HI :32:25
11 Morten Larsen Kailua Kona, HI :33:00
12 Donnie Eggleston Waikoloa, HI :33:45
13 Lyle Tamaribuchi Kailua Kona, HI :33:46
14 Tracy Yost Kamuela, HI :47:34
50 – 54 Male
1 Mark Noetzel Kamuela, HI :22:23
2 Michael Pipta Pahoa, HI :23:55
3 Derek Stuart Kamuela, HI :28:14
4 Peaman Pagett Kailua Kona, HI :28:18
5 John Ferdico Kailua Kona, HI :29:32
6 Aleks Velhner Kailua Kona, HI :33:19
7 Dave Schad Papaaloa, HI :42:01
55 – 59 Male
1 Eric Rhodes Kailua Kona, HI :23:40
2 Bob Hoxsie Kailua Kona, HI :26:16
3 Michael Dahler Kamuela, HI :30:01
4 Peter Jefferson Kamuela, HI :30:10
5 Steve Adams Waikoloa, HI :30:33
6 James Sakai Kailua Kona, HI :31:02
7 Scott Kuethen Chino Hills, CA :32:39
8 Tim Wiley Kailua Kona, HI :37:33
60 – 64 Male
1 Mike Tennant Bend, OR :22:47
2 Alfred Kent Papaaloa, HI :26:36
3 Rob Murray Kailua Kona, HI :27:00
4 Paul Carney Waikoloa, HI :27:40
5 Richard Ritter Kailua Kona, HI :27:50
6 Peter Morton Keaau, HI :28:05
7 James Mcgowan Kailua Kona, HI :29:02
8 Steve Dailey Pahoa, HI :30:39
9 Randall Cavanaugh Kailua Kona, HI :31:24
10 Daniel Piccuta Kailua Kona, HI :31:45
11 John Miller Kailua Kona, HI :36:55
12 Jeff Neubauer Kailua Kona, HI :40:11
13 Bo Florendo Kealakekua, HI :42:05
65 – 69 Male
1 Ron Ahloy Kamuela, HI :26:42
2 Bruce Wacker Kailua Kona, HI :28:50
3 Peter Bresciani Captain Cook, HI :31:36
4 Dard Vader Kailua-Kona, HI :34:03
70 & Over Male
1 Jim Mccleery Kailua Kona, HI :24:39
2 Bob Smith Kailua Kona, HI :27:37
3 Steve Sugar Keaau, HI :29:30
4 Jack Hoyt Kapaau, HI :37:39
5 John Barnett Kealakekua, HI :49:24
Overall Female
1 Maile Lawson Kailua Kona, HI :20:47
2 Ku’uleionalani Patterson Captain Cook, HI :21:12
9 & Under Female
1 Tiffany Ravaglia Kamuela, HI :34:41
2 Maya Maki Hawi, HI :37:40
3 Charlotte Kassis Kamuela, HI :43:41
4 Christiana Rose Kailua Kona, HI :46:08
5 Giselle Minez Kailua Kona, HI :47:31
10 – 14 Female
1 Chloe Hughes Kailua Kona, HI :22:17
2 Mary Campbell Paauilo, HI :22:21
3 Isabella Zambrana Kailua Kona, HI :22:40
4 Leah Decleene Hilo, HI :22:43
5 Claire Hughes Kailua Kona, HI :22:58
6 Maile Fediuk Keauhou, HI :23:07
7 Sydney Wiernicki :23:11
8 Sherridan Nelson Keaau, HI :23:28
9 Kiana Wiley Kailua Kona, HI :24:44
10 Phoebe Wyatt Hilo, HI :24:54
11 Alana Grossman Holualoa, HI :25:29
12 Loea Andrade Kailua Kona, HI :25:37
13 Keakoa Pintor Kailua Kona, HI :25:56
14 Kawena Haserot Kailua Kona, HI :26:03
15 Grace Rynkewicz Hilo, HI :26:13
16 Bella Shurley Kailua Kona, HI :26:56
17 Kailey Fediuk Keauhou, HI :26:57
18 Diana Garcia Kailua Kona, HI :27:13
19 Alexia Rose Kailua Kona, HI :27:18
20 Jada Keen Kailua Kona, HI :28:02
21 Jayden Hall Captain Cook, HI :29:00
22 Amanda Villamil Kailua Kona, HI :35:51
23 Brianna Villamil Kailua Kona, HI :35:51
15 – 18 Female
1 Tori Oshiro Kealakekua, HI :21:19
2 Hannah Tomlinson Kailua Kona, HI :22:33
3 Katie Jefforson Kamuela, HI :22:40
4 Bayleigh Wiernicki Hawi, HI :27:20
5 Aislinn Carroll Mountain View, HI :29:10
6 Erika Larsen Kailua Kona, HI :31:38
25 – 29 Female
1 Joyce Follis Kailua Kona, HI :31:14
30 – 34 Female
1 Sarah Sermons Kailua Kona, HI :22:53
2 Allison Adams Kailua Kona, HI :26:01
3 Angela Sugar Keaau, HI :26:39
4 Beata Tou Kailua Kona, HI :26:45
5 Kelly Hudik Kailua Kona, HI :31:35
6 Rachel Real Ninole, HI :35:41
35 – 39 Female
1 Bree Wee Kailua Kona, HI :21:21
2 Anita Leao Kailua Kona, HI :25:03
3 Rani Henderson Kailua Kona, HI :27:19
4 Catherine Spina Papaikou, HI :31:29
5 Rachel Grenier Waikoloa, HI :34:05
6 Sylvia Ravaglia Kamuela, HI :34:43
7 Angelica Andersen Waikoloa, HI :38:16
8 Lynette Noble Kailua Kona, HI :38:38
40 – 44 Female
1 Loreli Oka Kailua Kona, HI :24:45
2 Melissa Schad Papaaloa, HI :27:26
3 Frecia Cevallos Hilo, HI :36:01
4 Linda Larsen Kailua Kona, HI :40:32
5 Yuki Agoot Captain Cook, HI :42:07
6 Marcie Eynon Kailua Kona, HI :43:04
7 Patricia Kassis Kamuela, HI :43:46
45 – 49 Female
1 Otina Doherty Waikoloa, HI :24:38
2 Kim Clingman Kailua Kona, HI :29:29
3 Laurel Haserot Kailua Kona, HI :31:32
4 Ali Steiner Kailua Kona, HI :31:36
5 Ragnhild Fesel Holualoa, HI :33:45
6 Jennifer Ward Kailua Kona, HI :34:50
7 Margaret Haderle Kailua Kona, HI :37:33
8 Kate Nawahine Hilo, HI :38:54
50 – 54 Female
1 Pamela Harlow Kailua Kona, HI :28:22
2 Pamela Adams Kamuela, HI :28:59
3 Carolyn Packard Waikoloa, HI :31:08
4 Agnes Prehn Kailua Kona, HI :35:00
55 – 59 Female
1 Glee Jewell Kailua Kona, HI :23:15
2 Reiko Sekine Kailua Kona, HI :28:04
3 Ellen Williams Hilo, HI :28:31
4 Lisa Week Keauhou, HI :31:23
5 Laurie Hillyard Keauhou, HI :31:52
6 Tami Macaller Waikoloa, HI :31:58
7 Pam Miller Kailua Kona, HI :32:36
8 Laura Rogers Kailua Kona, HI :33:05
9 Jan Roberts Kailua Kona, HI :37:37
60 – 64 Female
1 Denise Boatwright Kailua Kona, HI :28:25
2 Linda Pollack Kailua Kona, HI :30:21
3 Donna Goodale Kailua Kona, HI :31:27
4 Laurie Beers Kailua Kona, HI :31:30
5 Lee Otani Hilo, HI :31:59
6 Linda Hallinger Kailua Kona, HI :33:51
7 Robin Woodley Kapaau, HI :33:56
8 Julie Barreto Kamuela, HI :37:51
9 Carolann Rose Kailua Kona, HI :46:09
65 – 69 Female
1 Patti Kiernan Kailua Kona, HI :30:27
70 & Over Female
1 Wendy Minor Kamuela, HI :35:29
