KAILUA-KONA — After weeks of waiting, the 18th Annual Run for Hops 5K and 10K finally happened on Saturday, and the weather ended up being just what every runner could have hoped for.
The popular running event originally set for March 14 was postponed due to a powerful storm system that hit the entire state, yet for a few hours late Friday night it almost felt like déjà vu. Heavy wind and rain moved through Kailua-Kona just after midnight on Friday which made everyone a bit nervous. But by the time 7:30 AM rolled around and the field was called to the start line fronting the BMW of Hawaii dealership, the skies had settled into a cool, gray, almost ideal conditions for a road race on the Big Island.
Over 200 runners and walkers set out on a scenic yet challenging course that took them north toward the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area runway strip. Participants then transitioned to the Makaeo Walking Path, followed by a stretch along Makala Boulevard and Luhia Street, before turning on Loloku Street to cross the finish line back at the BMW dealership. The 5K event completed one loop while the 10K event completed two loops.
In the shorter 5K race, it wasn’t a surprise to see Holualoa’s Laura Ankrum crossing the finish line as the overall winner in a speedy time of 20 minutes and 48 seconds.
“I just wanted to work on my speed a little bit more,” smiled Ankrum. “So, I went out hard and I tried hard to not slow down and have them catch me.”
Not too far behind was a great finishing sprint between Dylan Currier and Ankrum’s husband, Adam. Currier finished just one stride ahead to claim the men’s overall title in a time of 21:03. Ankrum, was also given the same finishing time.
Currier said he is originally from Rhode Island but has lived here for 10 years teaching free-diving and owns a boat charter company.
“This is my first race ever!” Currier said of his win. “I thought it was fun! The little rain made some of the turns a little slippery, but I could probably use some new shoes too. It was a beautiful morning in Kona; I can’t really complain about it. I thought the race was great and I like that it’s right here in town and we get to circle around Old A’s and the park, it was nice.”
The double loop 10K event had a slightly different feel as it was not only longer, but more tactical over the course of the race. Ben Baker from Reardan, Washington made his move early and built enough separation for a strong lead over the first loop of the race.
However, with less than a mile to the finish, Waikoloa’s Daniel Hill, who was running in second, moved to the front of the race and carried it through to the finish line to win in a time of 37:30. Baker settled for second place in a time of 37:35, with Pahoa’s James Eggimann in third at 38:05.
“I surprised myself,” chuckled Hill. “I was sick and the other two guys looked like they were going to win.”
On the women’s side, Kailua-Kona’s Angela Berry claimed the women’s title in a time
of 50:05. Vicki Hunter from Boulder, Colorado was next in a time of 51:30, followed by Kailua-Kona’s Morgan McCloskey in third at 52:38.
“It feels awesome!” Berry said after crossing the finish line as the first female. “I was in the lead, but I knew I had some women behind me who I was trying to stay ahead of.”
The 18th Annual Run for Hops is presented by People for Active Transportation Hawaii (PATH) and BMW of Hawaii. Proceeds from the event support PATH’s bicycle education programs and its ongoing efforts to improve road safety across Hawaii Island.
