Posted on: Sunday, August 1, 2004

Nearly 1,000 finish runs in Volcano Park

Advertiser Staff

Nearly 1,000 athletes completed the Volcano Art Center's 22nd Kilauea Volcano Wilderness Runs yesterday on the Big Island.

The event — which is composed of four races — starts and finishes at the Kilauea Military Camp at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, at an elevation of 4,000 feet.

Matt Stevens won the Wilderness Marathon, completing the arduous 26.2-mile course in 3 hours, 7 minutes, 51 seconds.

Amanda Salter, who placed 23rd overall in the field of 143, was the first female finisher in 4:18:41.

The 10-mile Rim Run, which drew 401 competitors, was dominated by former Hawai'i prep stars Todd Iacovelli (Punahou) and Christal Cuadra (Maryknoll).

Iacovelli's time of 1:03:33 was the seventh-best ever. Cuadra defended her female title with a time of 1:13:33 — the third-best time ever and only one second slower than her winning time in 2003.

C.J. Godfrey of Port Orchard, Wash., won the 5-mile Kilauea Caldera Run, beating a field of 255 with a time of 31:15 — the second-best ever.

Heather Lindsey-Harlan of Volcano finished ninth overall to lead female runners in 39:06.

The non-competitive Kilauea Caldera Walk had 197 finishers.

Awards were given to the top three finishers, both male and female, in various divisions in each of the three competitive races.

More than 200 pieces of artwork were awarded to the top finishers, all donated by artists whose works are on display in the Volcano Art Center Gallery.