Sports Update
The Tinman Triathlon has a history of attracting newcomers to a multi-sport event, yet remains one of the "must do" competitions for Hawaii's well-known triathletes. Tinman isn't just fun,
it's a 'must do' eventThe 18th annual affair on Sunday draws
By Al Chase, Star-Bulletin
novice and seasoned athletes, alikeConceived as an event for Hawaii's athletes, the 18th annual affair tomorrow continues that concept. There is no prize money and no big name international stars brought here to compete.
"It's a very individualized race," said Cindy Giorgis, a favorite in the women's 45-49 age bracket. "There is no Triathlon Federation sanctioning. It's a fun race because there are so many new people entered each year and you never know when one of them will surprise the known names.
"Yet, the seasoned vets all show up and they all want to do well."
The 800-meter swim, 25-mile bike ride and 10-kilometer run starts at 5:45 a.m. at Ala Moana Beach Park. The bike ride takes competitors out to Hawaii Kai and back to Kapiolani Park where the run begins and ends.
Giorgis, who started swimming competitively with the Pearl Harbor Swim Club at age 11, returned to Hawaii in the late 70's. But it wasn't until she was immersed in the Masters Swimming Program at The Oahu Club that she began doing triathlons. Then, only after a friend proded her into jogging and gave her an old bike.
Her first triathlon was the 1992 Waterfront. She has completed five Kona Ironman races, but says she has retired from that event.
The shorter triathlons are more appealing to the 47-year-old single mother of two teen-age boys. A special education teacher at Kamiloiki Elementary School, Giorgis has to mesh her training regimen with family responsibilities while taking university courses in hopes of completing 15 hours by December to qualify for the next Department of Education pay level.
"Most triathletes are goal setters. You have to be organized to do it well," Giorgis said.
She doesn't compete in swimming or biking events any more because there isn't enough time.
Despite a bothersome left hamstring, her goal tomorrow is to break the record in the 45-49 age group. She holds the Tinman 40-44 record and established the Japan Ironman Triathlon mark for that age group a couple years ago.
It's her sixth Tinman. She has fared well in the shorter triathlons recently. Yet, at her last easy workout Thursday, Giorgis said there is always an element of self-doubt the week before a race.
"You just hope it all comes together," she said.
Last year's men's winner, Brent Imonen, and women's champion Katherine Nichols, will defend their titles with Imonen going after his fifth consecutive victory.
There will be 13 men and eight women competing in the elite division.
Spokesperson Olga Caldwell said the ceiling of 1,200 entries has been reached and slightly more than 1,000 participants are expected at the starting line Sunday.
As the Tinman media release states: It is not meant to be an "elite" race but a triathlon for every interested athlete.
Kop cruises into final of Manoa Cup
Brandan Kop -- as expected -- cruised into Sunday's 36-hole final of the Manoa Cup at the Oahu Country Club, handily beating Tony Okano, 7 and 6.Chad Burrows -- with no expectations, especially after being six down at one point of his semifinal match Friday -- will face Kop after eliminating Alan Creighton, 1 up.
"I thought I was going to get smashed," said Burrows, who just graduated from the University of Hawaii. "I can't believe it."
"I had my chances. I only blame myself. What can you say?," said Creighton, who moved here in January after playing two years for the UNLV golf team.
So it's the expected and the totally unexpected tomorrow for the historic Manoa Cup trophy, of the Hawaii State Amateur Match Play Championship.
Kop took a 7-up lead over Okano after their morning 18 and then closed out the match with a halve with a par on the par-4 12th -- or the match's 30th hole.
Okano, a sophomore to be at Santa Clara University, had advanced in the 90th Manoa Cup by beating Stan Souza and Damien Jamila. But couldn't get past Kop, the defending champion who is trying to win the event for the fourth time.
Hawaii surfers eliminated in Billabong event
Hawaii's Sunny Garcia was beaten by Australia's Michael "Munga" Barry in the men's final and Megan Abubo of Hawaii was eliminated in the women's semifinals of the Billabong Pro surf contest at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa yesterday.Trudy Todd of Australia captured the women's title in a showdown with countrywoman Lynette MacKenzie.
ORLOWSKI WINS CLUB PRO TITLE: Mark Orlowski, head pro at Lanai's The Experience at Koele golf course, shot a 1-under-par 71 yesterday for a 36-hole total of 143 and a one-stroke victory over Ron Castillo Jr., Kevin Hayashi and Ben Hongo in the Aloha Section PGA Club Professional Championship at the Challenge at Manele course on Lanai.
ABRANTE HONORED: Kaiser High School's Endia Abrante has been named GATORADE Circle of Champions Hawaii High School Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
Abrante, who will attend the University of Oregon on a full athletic scholarship, broke two records while winning three state championships (100, 200, 400 meters) at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Track and Field Meet in May at the Kaiser track.
Abrante's time of 54.41 seconds in the 400 was the 11th fastest time in the nation for high school girls in 1998.
QB CLUB LINEUP: Russ Francis from DBEDT and KGU 76, Coop DeRenne, the hit doctor, and Ray Sweeney of Sweeney Communications will be the guest speakers at Monday's Honolulu Quarterback Club luncheon meeting at the Pagoda Restaurant.
Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. The program starts at noon.
GOLF RESERVATIONS ON HOLD: The City will upgrade its automated golf reservation system from Monday through Sunday, July 19. During that period, players must manually sign in during check-in rather than scanning their ID cards. They also will not be able to call in for tee times from 8 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.
CRUSADERS FOOTBALL CAMP: Coach Cal Lee and his staff will conduct the first St. Louis School Football Camp Aug. 3-7 at the school field.
There will be morning sessions for youngster 8-13 years old and afternoon sessions for those 14-17.
The cost is $100. Applications are available at the St. Louis Athletic Office or on request will be mailed to participants. Only the first 200 applicants will be accepted. Call 739-4882 or 739-4856.
KONISHIKI BENEFIT BASH: A Konishiki retirement party to honor the former sumo professional from Nanakuli and raise funds for the Konishiki Kids' Foundation, will be held July 24 at the Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom.
Konishiki, or Salevaa Atisanoe, founded the nonprofit organization to help Hawaii youth experience and observe different cultures, environments and lifestyles.
The July 24 celebration, called "Leaders of Tomorrow," will start at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails and an autograph session with Konishiki and fellow sumotori Musashimaru, or Waianae's Fiamalu Penitani. Heavy pupus and drinks will be served from 7 to 8, when entertainment begins. Performers will include 3 Scoops of Aloha, Kapena, the King's Guards and Hawaiian dancers. Robert Kekaula will be the MC.
Tickets cost $75 and are available at the Connection Outlet or by calling 545-4000.
WALLY YONAMINE TESTIMONIAL: A testimonial dinner for Wally Yonamine, the Japan baseball hall of famer and former Farrington High School football star, will be held Aug. 18 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.
Sponsored by the Farrington Class of 1945 and the school's alumni and community foundation, "A Celebration with Wally, will begin at 5:30 p.m. with no-host cocktails, followed by a sit-down dinner at 7.
Tickets are $45 per person and part of the proceeds will go to Wally Yonamine Foundation and Hawaii Public Television. Deadline for reservations is July 31.
For more information, call William Nakagawa 946-2001, Herbert Hirata 595-4622, Bertha Kanoa 373-2786, Bobby Kaneko 455-7267, Harold Saito 946-1178, George Chang 595-3213, Tad Inouye 521-5091 or Warren Nakamoto 845-1729.
IKF MARTIAL ARTISTS EXCEL: Defending kumite grand champions George Kotaka and Barbara Chinen of the International Karate Foundation successfully defended their titles in the recent AAU/USA National Championships at Orlando, Fla., where IKF Hawaii won 122 medals, including 70 gold.
Shannon Nishi took the gold and IKF teammate Rina Ito the silver in the age 13 female advanced division. IKF's Kris Yamamoto captured gold in the 13 male advanced division.
RAINBOW 18's 19TH: Corrie Machesky of Hawaii Prep Academy and Linsey Berg of Punahou led the Asics Rainbow 18's to third-place in the Bronze Division and 19th place out of 64 teams overall at the Junior Girls National Volleyball Championships in Dallas.
Other members of the team were Trishelle Fujinaga, Kym Ingano, Monica Karimoto, Trisha Kawamoto, Erica Lum, Syrina Makainai, Jyoti Mau, Kalei Teves and Jessica Van Buskirk.
KAWANANAKOA HORSE WINS: Royal Peepers, a 4-year-old gray gelding owned by Abigail K. Kawananakoa of Honolulu, won the recent MBNA America Northwest Quarter Horse Challenge in Boise, Idaho.
Royal Peepers earned $26,325 with his first-place finish.
The MBNA Challenge is a series of 40 regional races run in 10 regions throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The regional winners will run for the Challenge Championship Nov. 1 at Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County, Calif.
BIG ISLAND 'HOOPSMART' TEAM: Former University of Hawaii at Hilo basketball star Mark Lovelace will coach the Big Island team in the July 16-21 Hoopsmart USA Classic, which brings more than 200 high school players from 45 states to Hilo for the 24-team tournament.
Members of the Big Island team are Kenneth Shim and Tony Rocha from Kapa'au; Myron Yoshizumi, Joseph Nicolas and Dave Hotnianski from Hilo; Leo Agonias, Jason Mandaquit and Eric Dunlap from Pahoa; Kimo Keiter-Charles from Mountain View, and Wesley Martinez from Pahala.
DRAGON BOAT RACES: The third annual AT&T Dragon Boat Festival, featuring races among multi-colored wooden boats decorated with dragon heads, scaly bodies and tails, will be held at Ala Moana Beach Park on July 25 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There will be races in Junior (age 13-17), Novice, Open, Military, Women, Masters (40-plus) and International divisions. There also will be entertainment, food and craft booths.
Applications will be accepted through July 23. For more information, call 532-7300.
FUND-RAISING TENNIS TOURNEY: The 10th annual AT&T/Pilot Tennis Championships will be held July 24-26 at the Hickam Air Force Base Tennis Center, with men's and women's singles and doubles competition in classes 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and a wheelchair tournament.
The Pilot Club of Downtown Honolulu co-sponsors the tournament, which raises funds for local charities such as Hawaii Special Olympics, Winners at Work, Alzheimer's Association and the Special Education Center of Hawaii.
Entry forms, available at tennis courts or by calling 942-4477, must be received by July 15.
BENEFIT SHOW FOR UH-HILO SOFTBALL: A collectibles and Sportscard Show and a silent auction to benefit the University of Hawaii at Hilo softball program will be held July 25 at the Maui Prince Hotel.
The show will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with results of the auction announced at 4:30 p.m.
For more information, call Callen Perreira at 808-974-7703 or Garrett Chan at 808-533-1128.
LONG DRIVE QUALIFYING: Hawaii golfers may attempt to qualify on July 27 (local) and Sept. 11 (district) at the Turtle Bay Country Club for the World Long Drive Championship, to be held Oct. 21-24 in Mesquite, Nev.
The qualifiers will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Up to six golfers in each division (Open, Senior) advance from the local to the district event. Cost is $30 for six golf balls.
IRWIN TO DEFEND KAANAPALI TITLE: Defending champion Hale Irwin will head a field of 78 leading Senior PGA Tour pros for the EMC2 Kaanapali Classic Oct. 18-25 at the Kaanapali North Course.
Also scheduled to play in the 54-hole event are three-time winner Bob Charles and 1993 champion George Archer.
The tournament will be televised on ESPN.
UH BASEBALL MEETING: Baseball players interested in playing for the University of Hawaii team are invited to an Aug. 26 meeting at 3:30 p.m. at Rainbow Stadium. They must be full-time registered students at the UH-Manoa campus.
For more information, call the baseball office, 956-6247, before Aug. 19.
See expanded coverage in Saturday's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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