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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 4:40 p.m., Saturday, April 7, 2007

Tresnak paddles to canoe victory

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

In shape or not, Karel Tresnak Jr. is still the man to beat when it comes to solo canoe paddling.

He proved that today, winning the OC-1 (one-person canoe) division of the Kanaka Ikaika O'ahu Championship in convincing fashion.

Tresnak completed the 16-mile course from Makai Pier to Kaimana Beach in 1 hour, 55 minutes, 4 seconds.

"I had a good run on the outside," he said. "It seemed like the current was with me a bit more out there."

Andrew Penny finished a distant second in 1:57:54. Danny Ching was third in 1:58:24.

In the surfski division, Geordan Purdy placed first with a time of 1:53:38. Steve Kelly was second in 1:54:13.

Arlene Holzman was the first female to finish in the OC-1 division with a time of 2:19:12. Mary Smolenski was second in 2:23:12.

Maggie Twigg-Smith was the first female to finish on a surfski.

Upcoming races include:

April 22 — Kanaka Ikaika State Championship; April 28 — Starbucks Maui Challenge; May 6 — Starbucks Kaiwi Channel Relay; May 12 — Kaua'i World Challenge; May 20 — Moloka'i Challenge World Championships.