Fritz, Heinrich
take Honolulu title

By Jack Wyatt
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Yesterday's Honolulu International Triathlon doesn't compare to the famed Ironman Triathlon in stature and turnout, but to winners Kirk Fritz and Carrie Heinrich, it was a thrill of a lifetime.

''I'll take it! I'll take it!'' said a happy Fritz, after winning the men's division of Oahu's longest multi-sport event of the season.

''I failed to qualify for last week's Ironman because of business pressures and injuries. This win today saved my triathlon season.''

The race began with a 1,500-meter Waikiki ocean swim, followed by a 55-kilometer bike trek out past Hanauma Bay to Sandy Beach, then back to Kapiolani Park. The event concluded with a 15-kilometer run circling Diamond Head twice.

Of the 275 participants (50 were women), at least a dozen had competed in last week's Ironman at Kona, a contest more than double the length of yesterday's event.

''I'm just happy my legs were fresh not having done the Ironman. I felt for those participants that did compete at Kona and raced today,'' Fritz said.

Fritz, 27, a Kahala Mall restaurant manager, finished the swim among the leaders and was third after the bike leg. He took over the men's lead on the first lap of the run.

''The two guys I passed on the run (Kelly Beck and Raul Boca) were Ironman competitors. Their legs must have been tired,'' Fritz said.

He finished in 2 hours, 44 minutes and 33 seconds. Last year's winning time was 2:43:41 over a slightly different course.

Boca, 33, a Honolulu triathlon coach and 10-time Ironman competitor, finished second 2:46:15, followed by Germany's Axel Reusch (2:47:26). Beck fell to ninth.

''Considering that my body is in a recovery mode, I'm happy with my second place,'' Boca said.

Boca's wife, Hina Torres, finished in the money, placing third in her 25-29 age-division.

In winning the women's race, Heinrich, 36, a Schofield Barracks mother of two young boys, proved that triathloning can be a pressure-free experience.

''I knew that Ironman's top women had elected not to enter,'' she said. ''So I thought to myself, what the heck, why not go for it.''

Heinrich finished fourth among women in the swim and passed her rivals on the bike.

''I surprise myself by holding my lead during the run,'' she said.

Heinrich turned the course in 3:13:16, placing 38th among all participants.

''A steady race, nothing spectacular, just consistent,'' the former collegiate tennis standout said. ''The race was fun, winning was the icing.''

Holly Martin, 39, a downhill skier from Flagstaff, Arizona, finished second among women in 3:18:19.

''With snow flurries at home and temperatures near freezing, the warm-water swim was a gift from heaven,'' she said.

Martin surfaced from the swim in third and held that position through the bike leg and through most of the run.

''I finally caught and passed the second-place girl (Anjanette Wong) late in the run. A competitive yet fun race,'' she said.

Martin and her husband, Nick, came to Hawaii for a racing vacation.

''With each of us winning trophies today, we weren't at all disappointed,'' she said.

Nick Martin placed first in his 40-44 age-division with a 2:49:58 finish.

Wong, 26, a former Punahou School and Washington State University swimming champion, finished third among women in 3:19:06. The University of Hawaii assistant swim coach recorded the day's fastest swim time, turning the 1,500 meters in 15 minutes 11 seconds.

Considered a rising star among local female triathletes, Wong topped Japan's Taro Shirato - the next fastest swimmer - by a comfortable 29 seconds.

''The swim went well but unfortunately, triathloning has two other disciplines. And I'm working on those,'' she said.