ISLE FILE
World's top women surfers advance at Maui meet
Advertiser Staff and News Services
The race for the women's world championship of surfing will go on for another day.
All three contenders for the 2007 world title advanced to the third round of the Billabong Pro Maui yesterday.
The first two rounds of the event were run in 2- to 4-foot waves at Honolua Bay, Maui.
Current No. 1 Stephanie Gilmore of Australia, No. 2 Sofia Mulanovich of Peru and No. 3 Silvana Lima of Brazil each had solid first-round heats to advance directly to the third round.
The Billabong Pro Maui is the final event of the 2007 World Championship Tour for women, so the world title will be decided at Honolua Bay.
Lima was the standout of the day, recording a two-wave score of 17.2 (out of 20).
"Sometimes I think about the title, but then I relax," Lima said. "I think more about the event. I really want to win the event. If the ASP women's world title comes, then great, but I'm focused on the event. I love it here. I'm really happy."
Gilmore is the only surfer in control of her destiny. As long as she keeps advancing, Mulanovich and Lima can not overtake her.
"If I wanted the whole race to come down to any kind of wave, it would probably be one like this," Gilmore said. "I'm in a really good position and my surfing feels really good."
The Billabong Pro Maui is also the final event in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing for women.
Mulanovich and Waialua's Megan Abubo are the leaders in the Triple Crown race, and both remained in contention.
Abubo lost her first-round heat, but came back to win her second-round heat. She received a score of 9.25 (out of 10) on her best wave, which was the single best ride of the day.
The men's Billabong Pipeline Masters did not run yesterday due to insufficient conditions at the Banzai Pipeline.
For updated status of the contests, call 596-7873 or visit triplecrownofsurfing.com.
FOOTBALL
TICKETS FOR MILITARY
East Carolina University football fans are buying tickets to their team's bowl game in Hawai'i, but they are donating them to military personnel who expect to spend time there during the Christmas holiday.
Scott Wetherbee, assistant athletic director for ticketing and marketing, says ECU wants to be sure someone will sit in its seats for the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Dec. 23 at Aloha Stadium by buying tickets and donating them to active members of the service.
"We know we're not going to take 5,000 fans to Hawai'i," Wetherbee said of the school located in Greenville, N.C.
Hawai'i Bowl Executive Director Jim Donovan had contacts with all five branches of the armed services, Wetherbee said, and the idea was to give those stationed on the Islands a chance to request tickets to the game.
If there are not enough takers from the military, Wetherbee said, tickets will be offered to firefighters, police officers and local charities.
As for the ECU followers buying and using their own tickets, Wetherbee said the number grew slowly last week.
"Right now, we're pushing 200 that have ordered," he said. "If I had to guess, I would hope we would have 400 or 500 make the destination."
BASKETBALL
BYUH WOMEN FALL
Sheena Brown had 16 points and five steals as Alaska-Fairbanks beat Brigham Young-Hawai'i, 73-48, Saturday night in a nonconference women's game at La'ie.
Sarah Herrin added 15 points for the Nanooks (5-1).
Hoku Holdcraft scored 10 points and Amanda Watts added 10 rebounds and eight points for the Seasiders (0-4).
