Larson, Wokasch win in Wahiawa
By Mike Tymn
Special to The Advertiser
At 6 feet 2 and 198 pounds, Chris Larson looks much more like a football running back than the stereotypical wiry long-distance runner. But his muscular build didn't stop the 28-year-old Hawai'i Pacific University junior from winning the 27th annual Wahiawa Pineapple Run yesterday morning.
"I've got large lungs and long legs," Larson explained after winning the 10-kilometer (6.2-miles) race in 35 minutes, 29.2 seconds. Although it was a slow winning time compared with other local 10K races, on a pound-for-pound basis it might have been one of the best running performances ever in the state.
Dave Lopez, 41, was second in 35:42.5, while Tim Schubert, 27, took a distant third.
Winning the women's race for the ninth time was Jeannie Wokasch, 39.
Finishing 13th overall, she recorded 40:47.4, beating Lisa Gonzales-Gile, 44, by about eight seconds. Heidi Brockmann, 22, was third.
"I was faster on the downhill parts than (Gonzales-Gile) was," said Wokasch, who won her first Pineapple run title in 1988. "She was stronger going uphill."
With 493 entrants, the event got underway at 7 a.m. in front of Ka'ala Elementary School in Wahiawa. It was an entirely new course from previous years.
Larson, who runs cross-country for HPU, took command of the race about a half-mile into it. Lopez, a visitor from Florida, followed a few strides behind as the two leaders quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field.
"He didn't look like a runner, so I didn't expect him to stay out there very long," said Lopez. "But after about two miles, I knew he was going to be tough."
Larson began to inch away from Lopez on the fourth mile. "I just tried to hold a steady pace all the way," said Larson, a native of North Dakota.
The women's race was closer. Gonzales-Gile, a flight attendant from Aspen, Colo., overtook Wokasch on the second mile and had about a 40-yard lead at the half-way point.
"I knew she wouldn't let go," said Gonzales-Gile. Wokasch passed Gonzales-Gile with about a half-mile remaining in the race.
Impressive age-class efforts were recorded by 64-year-old Ken Mohich, winner of the 60-64 division in 45:53.8 and Valerie Wheadon, 52, winner of the women's 50-54 division with a 48.11.2.
