New Zealand lifeguard takes dive to capture Waikiki King's Race
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
By the narrowest of margins, New Zealand's Glenn Anderson was crowned King of Waikiki for a day.
Anderson earned that distinction by edging Australian Heath Collie at the finish line to win the Outrigger's Waikiki King's Race yesterday at Waikiki Beach.
More than 60 competitors from around the world competed in the event, which tests all-around ocean skills: a fl-mile beach run followed by a 3-mile kayak, then a mile swim and a mile paddleboard.
Anderson, 21, completed the course in 43 minutes, 38 seconds. Collie was credited with the same time, but Anderson's dive across the finish line was just ahead of Collie's.
"I knew he was coming," said Anderson, who led for most of the race. "I didn't want to lose it right there at the end, so I gave it all I had."
Anderson took the lead during the swim leg and never relinquished it. He opened a 25-yard lead during the paddleboard, but Collie closed it by catching one of the few small waves that appeared off Waikiki yesterday.
"I saw a good (wave) and I knew I had to run with it as far as possible if I was to have any chance," Collie said. "But to tell you the truth, I didn't think it would take me that far."
Collie rode the wave to the shore, arriving on the beach at the same time as Anderson. However, Anderson had an inside lane for the 10-meter beach sprint to the finish line.
"He had an extra meter or so because of that," Collie said. "But I had no choice, I had to stay with the wave as long as I could, and that's what put me in that position."
A relatively flat ocean and an extremely low tide created what Anderson described as "sketchy" conditions.
During the swim leg, many competitors actually ran in the knee-deep area near the reef. Anderson had several cuts on his hands and feet as proof, but he still credited the swim as his key to victory.
Anderson was also fueled by a relatively disappointing performance by himself and fellow New Zealand lifeguards during last week's Hawaiian International Ocean Challenge. After winning in 1999 and 2000, New Zealand placed third this year, behind Australia and California.
"It gives us some pride back," he said.
O'ahu lifeguard Dolan Eversole placed eighth overall at 46:30, and was the first Hawai'i finisher. Mitch Kahn of California was 14th overall at 46:33, and first in the masters division (40 and older).
The women's division was not nearly as dramatic, as Australian Karla Gilbert dominated for the second consecutive year. Gilbert, 26, finished in 49:32, which was 1:32 better than runner-up Shannon Bell of Canada.
"What I like to do in these races is try and beat as many guys as I can," Gilbert said. She placed 26th overall, ahead of about 25 men.
Jodi Jackson was the first female finisher from Hawai'i in 55:12.
