WAIKOLOA — There are very few endurance events left on the Big Island that Bree Wee doesn’t have her name on.
The Kona Marathon was one of those — until Sunday.
Wee claimed victory in the 26.2-mile race in 3 hours and 8 minutes, cruising through the finish line at the Waikoloa Beach Resort well ahead of the rest of the female field and in third place overall.
For Wee — who retired last year as Hawaii’s most decorated professional triathlete — just getting to the start line was half the battle. She won the half marathon race at last year’s event, but hadn’t been able to fit the full marathon into her hectic schedule.
“I was just happy to be able to compete in this race,” Wee said. “Being able to do these hometown events are the best.”
With the Kona Marathon win, Wee completed a sweep of sorts that has never been seen on the Big Island. She also won the Lavaman Olympic-distance triathlon in April, and was at the front of the pack at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii — also know as Honu — earlier in June.
“I’m just having fun,” Wee said with her patented smile.
It was her third race in four weeks, and she admits she hasn’t rested much or tapered her training. That is mostly due to her focus being set on HURT 100 — a 100-mile trail race on Oahu. If she makes it through the selection process — which she should find out in August — it will be in January of next year.
“These races have been really good training for my mindset,” Wee said. “ I appreciate everyone that cheers and embraces me while I’m out there. There’s really nothing like racing on your home course.”
Wee’s title ended the reign of defending three-time Kona Marathon champion Yuko Nakai, who finished in second at 3:19:31. Hillary Brimhall, of Nevada, rounded out the podium for the women at 3:29:38.
The men’s race was much more of a cat and mouse game between Kentaro Masuda and Kona’s Patrick Stover.
The duo, along with third place male and Kona Marathon veteran Kengo Yoshimoto, came out of the gate strong — so much so that it changed Stover’s tactics a bit.
“Going into the race, the plan was the take it easy for the start, and finish strong,” the Konawaena alum said. “But once we started, the front two guys took off and I knew I was going to have to go a littler harder than I would have liked to keep those two guys within catching distance later in the race.”
Stover caught Yoshimoto around the turn, and eventually passed Masuda. But then — like a wide receiver crossing over the middle of the field — he started to hear footsteps.
“I could hear him behind me,” Stover said. “His footsteps came, and then they went away for a little. But all of a sudden they came back and were faster. He flew by me probably around Mile 24.”
Masuda went on to claim his first Kona Marathon victory in 2:52:20, followed closely by Stover — the top Big Island runner — at 2:54:21. Yoshimoto rounded out the male top three, coming in at 3:11:10.
“I was able to hang on at the end,” Masuda said of his victory through a translator. “It was tough, but I am happy with the finish. It was a very good race.”
It was Stover’s first time running the Kona Marathon course in Waikoloa. He did it in 2013 and ‘14 back when the race was in Keauhou, and the half route in 2015.
“It was all good, until the very end,” said Stover, who was able to reflect on his day with a laugh.
Stover had a thumbs up review of the out-and-back course, which takes runners on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway and around the resort grounds. However, he came to a quick realization as the morning wore on that many of the other runners also found out in a hurry.
“It’s really nice in the morning, but when the sun comes out — oh man. I got so thirsty,” Stover said. “I couldn’t skip any aid stations.”
Best of the rest: Half, quarter marathon and 5K winners
Youth found the front of the pack in the half marathon, with the top two finishers coming out of the 19-and-under age group
Tennessee’s Christopher Rayder roared to victory in the 13.1-mile race, clocking a time of 1:17:49. The young runner ran at a torrid 05:56 pace.
Gabriel Tom finished a distant second at 1:24:41, with Big Islander John Howerton (1:25:34) rounding out the podium.
Georgia’s Holly Ballenger was the top female half marathoner, coming in at 1:35:17. She was followed by Tennessee’s Joanne Szewczyk (1:38:00). Keely Mcghee (1:40:31) represented the Big Island on the podium, in third.
Waikoloa’s Michael Vrbanac claimed the fastest quarter marathon time of the day, stopping the clock at 42:46. Kona’s Jose Abel Juarez (43:41) settled for second, while Max Kennedy — on vacation from Virginia — took third with a time of 45:41.
Melissa Menghini was the quickest female in the quarter, with a time of 46:23. Kona’s Stella Gibbs (47:20) and Illinois resident Megan Levin (50:32) finished second and third, respectively.
In the male 5K, it was a photo finish. Both John Marrack and Larry Kim clocked times of 18:57. However, Marrack — a young gun in the 12-14 age group racing out of Hilo — finished a step ahead for the win. Kederang Ueda (19:18) was third.
Emily Van Meter was the 5K female champ with a time of 19:36 and the Denver-area athlete had a similar takeaway to Stover on the day.
“It was a lot warmer than what I’m used to. I’m glad I just did the 5K,” Van Meter said. “It’s a pretty unique experience running here. Maybe I’ll come back and do the marathon. We will see.”
Ashlee Drady finished in 21:15 for silver honors in the female 5K, while Melanie Aiona’s third place finish in a time of 21:34 made sure the Big Island was represented on the podium.
