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[ OUT THERE ]

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Rae Flannigan, seven-months pregnant, ran for the finish line at the The Magic Island Biathlon. When asked if she was going to continue running and swimming, Flannigan said, "I'm just gonna keep on going." The race consisted of a 2.5-mile run and a 1,000-meter swim.

Mason's transfer finishes Wahine recruiting

Sarah Mason of Hilo, an All-Pac-10 honorable mention choice for Oregon this past season, is tranferring to the University of Hawaii and will play for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team this fall.

This completes the 2005 recruiting class for Hawaii. Earlier, the Wahine signed Punahou outside hitter Aneli Cubi-Otineru.

Mason, a 6-foot-3 outside hitter, was a two-time All-State player for St. Joseph. Last season, she led the conference in aces, was third in points (kills plus blocks plus aces) and fifth in kills despite missing six matches with torn ankle ligaments.

Mason had double-digit kills in 19 of the 23 matches she played and averaged 5.06 kills per game in her last five matches. The Ducks were a combined 1-35 during her two seasons.

Mason was also selected to the Pac-10's All-Freshman Team in 2003. After obtaining her release last week, she was scheduled to enroll at UH today.

USTA tourney back at Hilton Waikoloa

The Hilton Waikoloa Village USTA Challenger is back for its sixth year next week.

The tennis tournament on the Big Island offers $100,000 in prize money. It includes many players ranked or formerly ranked in the top 100, including defending men's singles champion Dmitry Tursunov, Brian Vahaly, Justin Gimmelstob, Paul Goldstein and Robert Kendrick.

On the women's side, Hungary's Melinda Czink returns to defend her title. Jamea Jackson, Jewel Peterson and Carly Gullickson are some others of note vying for the title.

Tickets for the Jan. 24-30 tournament are $5 per day from Monday through Thursday and $10 per day from Friday through Sunday.

For more information, call (808) 886-1234.

Seasiders' Chrisman earns PacWest honors

Brigham Young-Hawaii's Jake Chrisman was named the Pacific West Conference Player of the Week.

Chrisman earned player-of-the-week honors five times a year ago when he also was named player of the year.

Last week, Chrisman scored 31 points and pulled down a game-high six rebounds in a 90-87 win over Hawaii-Hilo.

Georgia coach Richt out of Hula Bowl

ATHENS, Ga. >> Georgia coach Mark Richt last night withdrew from this Saturday's Hula Bowl college all-star game in Wailuku, Maui.

Richt said that changes on his coaching staff so close to signing day made it preferable to stay at home this weekend.

(Dick Schaller, the game's executive director, told the Star-Bulletin last night that it was too late to invite another coach and they would go with the staff they had).

Richt had to fill two openings on his staff after defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder left to join the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars and running backs coach Ken Rucker moved to Texas.

The Bulldogs are working to shore up their standing with recruits who might be a bit unnerved by the changes. National signing day is Feb. 2.

"I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to coach in the Hula Bowl game, but the timing and recent developments made it preferable for me to remain at home," said Richt, who ws to serve as head coach along with Oregon's Mike Bellotti.