WAIKOLOA — After an entire Olympic-distance triathlon, the difference came down to a dive in the finishing chute.
Neck and neck on the sand at Anaehoomalu Bay, Ben Williams and Jose Graca battled through a 1K swim, 40K bike and 10K run until the final few feet. But Graca took an unadvised early dive and Williams was able to come away with his second Lavaman Waikoloa title, finishing in 1 hour, 56 minutes and 28 seconds.
Graca — who finished the last year’s Ironman World Championship as the top Big Island finisher — settled for second in 1:56:37.
“It was super close,” Williams said. “It was really exciting and the pressure was on all the way to the very last second.”
It was the closest finish in the race’s 21-year history, but it could have been by even slimmer margins.
“I thought the finish tape was closer when I jumped,” Graca said of his leap. “I was running alone for a while, but then Ben caught me on the sand and I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ He was flying.”
Williams, who lives on Oahu, also won the race in 2015 and is experienced on the Waikoloa course. That knowledge, combined with a scorching run of 32:34 — the best of the day — helped him to the title.
“I love this race. It is my favorite race on the islands,” Williams said. “I do it every year I can.”
On the women’s side, it was no surprise to find Bree Wee at the front of the pack. The former professional triathlete added to her record first-place haul at the event, capturing her eighth Lavaman title with a time of 2:09:19.
Carly Killam (2:15:52) finished second among the women, with Rani Henderson (2:16:57) rounding out the women’s podium.
“Small town, local race with really the same crowd. You feel like you are racing with family. Carly and Rani were out there and they are two of my dearest friends. That to me is special,” Wee said. “We were all cheering for each other and this is a special race for that.”
Wee also drew inspiration from a fallen friend, James Sakai.
Sakai was an avid runner, cyclist and triathlete who lost his life in a tragic accident while riding his bike on Queen Kaahumanu Highway. He was 61 years old. Wee held up a photo of him when she crossed the line.
“All I could think about was my friend Jimmy,” Wee said, who battled through a flat tire and dropped her bike coming out of the transition. “I carried his picture trying to race for him. I haven’t rode my bike outside since June because I’ve been so scared since he lost his life. I realized how dangerous biking can be now. It had a different feel, but I’m just thankful to be here.”
Wee’s Lavaman title spree will end at eight, at least under her current name.
“It’s special because this could be my last triathlon as Wee because I just recently got engaged,” she said. “I kind of wanted to say goodbye to the whole Bree Wee name and I think the next race I’ll probably be Bree Brown.”
Davis the class of High School Division
Hawaii Prep’s Malcolm Davis took first place in the High School Division at Lavaman. Davis, a senior at HPA and the leader of Ka Makani’s triathlon club, finished seventh overall in a time of 2:04:57.
“With the caliber of high school competition competing in the race this year, I was really nervous coming in,” Davis said. “There was some new talent out their this year, but I wanted to leave a good legacy for my club at HPA in my senior year and keep my spot on top of the podium.”
Davis, who has had trouble with overheating in the past, thought it was surprisingly hot on the course Sunday despite the cloudy conditions.
“There was no wind on the bike, which was really nice, but on the run, it was just cooking,” Davis said. “At every aid station I was encouraging the volunteers to splash water on me and I would pour water on my head.”
Davis was followed in the high school division by fellow club teammate Gabriel Low. Low finished 11th overall with a time of 2:11:05. Waverider Triathlon Club member Josiah Randerson rounded out the top three at 2:12:09, good enough for 13th overall.