Allen tops field
in roughwater swim

He is declared the winner
over Pullen, who finished first but
was not legally entered

By Jack Wyatt
Special to the Star-Bulletin

For the want of an official entry, a swimming race was lost.

Australia's Steve Pullen finished first in yesterday's 28th annual Waikiki Roughwater Swim but when the standings were posted at Duke Kahanamoku Beach his name was among the missing.

''I tried to enter the race prior to the start but swim officials informed me I was too late -- that applications would not be accepted on race day. I decided to swim anyway,''said Pullen, 22, who nipped fellow countryman Malcolm Allen, 24, by scant seconds.

When the spray had settled, it was Allen, last year's men's champion, and not unofficial entry Pullen, who was declared the ocean plunge winner.

Allen turned the 2.4-mile course in 48 minutes and 20 seconds. Last year, under more adverse conditions, the Sudney-based swimmer won the race in 51:11.

''Our swim instructions were clear -- spelled out in big bold letters,'' said long-time event official Jim Anderson. ''No entries accepted after 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.''

Anderson noted that the Waikiki Roughwater Swim committee goes to great lengths each year to ease the registration process for participants.

''There's ample time to enter. There's no reason for anyone to miss our deadline,'' he said.

Yesterday's swim drew 980 participants, from youngsters 9 years old to seniors near 80.

With Allen winning the men's race and Australia's Stacey Gartrell leading the women's division for the second year, yesterday's plunge became another Aussie rout.

''I would have liked to have beaten Steve,'' Allen said, ''but he caught a wave that I didn't and was able to surge ahead.''

Allen wasn't that concerned, however, for he knew that Pullen was a pretender -- an unofficial entry.

Visitors swept the first four places in the men's race, and the first three places in the women's field.

''I wasn't sure that I was the first woman until I hit the beach,'' Gartrell said. "Swimming within the faster men's lead pack helped pull me through.''

Gartrell, 20, won the women's division with a time of 48:44.

''A competitive women's field. I could never take the time to look back,'' she said.

Course records -- 42:13 for men and 45:33 for women, both set two years ago -- remain secure.

''Conditions were pretty neutral -- not really an adverse current or not that favorable either,'' said Honolulu's John White Cater. ''I'd say conditions were just about perfect for a senior swimmer such as myself.''

Cater, a 65-year-old Honolulu attorney, is the only participant to have completed all 28 swims. Yesterday he finished healthy and happy in 1:52.

Manoa's Jodi Jackson, 20, a Stanford University junior and member of the Cardinal swim team, finished first among Hawaii's women with a division fourth-place 53:52 performance.

Hawaii Kai's John Flanagan, 22, who placed fifth overall in 48:29, led all isle men. Last season, Flanagan swam for Auburn University's NCAA men's champion swim team.

Jackson and Flanagan are former state high school swimming champions from Punahou School.

The Waikiki Roughwater Swim is a Labor Day tradition that attracts the best.

Several members of California's powerful OffShore Canoe Club, winners of Saturday's Queen Liliuokalani women's open regatta at Kona, took part.

''Swimming the Waikiki Roughwater seemed like a fun way to end our Hawaii paddling vacation before heading back to California,'' said Vicki Mills.

Manoa's Diane Stowell paddled for Hui Nalu last Saturday at Kona.

"The Waikiki Roughwater is special. No sport, not even paddling, could keep me away,'' said Stowell, winner of her 60-64 age group.

The Labor Day plunge turned golden for sailing canoe steersman Cappy Sheeley of Maui.

''I'm in shock! An age-group (55-59) win in my first Roughwater Swim!'' he said after his 1:08 finish.