Friis wins third straight Pineapple Run
By Mike Tymn
Special to The Advertiser
The Wahiawa Pineapple Run had a new look yesterday morning, but there was a familiar face in first place.
Winning the race for the third consecutive year was Christian Friis, a 28-year-old Hawai'i Pacific University senior from Denmark.
It was also Friis' fourth consecutive victory this year on the local running circuit. He won the Faerber 10K during March and the Tamanaha 15K and Ford Island 10K this month.
In its 26th year, the race was under new management and with a new, shorter course. The previous race was contested over 6.75 miles.
Yesterday's race, sponsored by Pacific Sports Care and Wahiawa General Hospital, was 6.21 miles or 10 kilometers. Friis covered the distance in 32 minutes, 25 seconds, finishing about a quarter of a mile ahead of John Smith, 40, who recorded 33:58. Raul Portillo, 21, was third, another seven seconds back.
"I had no great expectations, timewise," said Friis. "I'm pretty tired from all the racing I've done the past month, and so I'm satisfied."
A familiar face had the lead in the women's race for about three mile, but seven-time winner Jeannie Wokasch was overtaken on the fourth mile by Tina Eakin, who continued on to a 27-second victory over Wokasch. Eakin, a 30-year-old Pearl Harbor Navy mechanic, clocked 39:59. Wokasch, 38, crossed in 40:26, followed by Tammy Agader, 25, in 41:21.
"I liked the hills," said Eakin, who considers herself primarily a triathlete. "They were tough but they were steady."
With 350 entrants, the event got underway at Leilehua High School at 7 a.m. Another 99 runners took part in a companion 5K fun run. Sloshing through the mud on the school's track, Friis immediately took command and was never challenged. The men's race was for second as Smith and Portillo battled each other until Smith began pulling away with about 400 yards remaining.
Eakin took the lead from Wokasch when the defending champion began to cramp on a downhill portion.
"I almost quit," said Wokasch, "but it's a lot like childbirth. I've been through that three times and new I could gut it out."
Nathaniel Sebren was first in the 5K with a 18:58, while Julie Walsh topped the women in 24:03.
