Cancer Prevention Tips & Emily Wedeman Memorial

     One of the most dreaded things that we face as we get older is the chance of getting cancer, in one form or another.

     My annual blood test results often bring reassurance of another year without the dreaded disease.  But for those of us that like to play the odds it can be stacked in our favor if we practice a few well accepted cancer prevention techniques.

    Thirty percent of all cancer deaths come from smoking, so I’ve already placed the odds in my favor as I managed to quit the habit more than 25 years ago.

    There is no doubt that living a healthy life helps reduce the risk of cancer.  Making a few simple changes in our daily lives can go a long way towards preventing cancer.

    Exercise is at the top of the list of things to do at least five days per week.  The American Medical Association recommends that people walk for 30 to 60 minutes per day, five days per week, and they have evidence that those that follow this simple pattern produced results.

    A recent study found that people with breast cancer who walked the recommended daily allowance not only felt fewer side effects of treatment, they also had a lower incidence of recurrence than those who didn’t exercise at all.

   Regular exercise prevents the circulatory and digestive systems from becoming sluggish, the study states.  It also helps them to function more efficiently, which has special benefits for those fighting off treatment-induced swelling or edema.

   Exercise also reduces fatigue, lowers stress levels, and inspires feeling of well being with the release of my favorite drug, “endorphins.”

   The current guidelines of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate-to-brisk activity five days a week is a wise one to follow for anyone wanting to reap the benefits.

   Watching what you eat plays an important role as it is recommended that 30 percent of our food intake should come from fruits and vegetables.

   Foods high in Omega 3, fatty acids, like salmon and sardines should also appear regularly in our dietary consumption.

   And the third and final area of helping to reduce the odds of getting cancer comes from maintaining a positive way to look at things.  Being positive can give us the emotional and physical strength we need to fight cancer.

    Studies have shown that people with cancer that remain optimistic live longer than those who nosedive into despair.  According to the study a prognosis can, in fact change, as the body responds to treatments.

   This past Friday saw the running of the Third Annual Emily Wedeman 5-miler starting at Moku Ola (Coconut Island) in Hilo.

    Wedeman was a “super volunteer” of running and walking events who had lost her battle with lung cancer in April 2006.

    The event is done in her memory and brings awareness of cancer to our running and walking community.  On hand was her son, Joe, who provided a few words of inspiration prior to the start of the race.

    Pahoa’s Billy Barnett took the early lead with University of Hawaii at Hilo cross-country runner Garrett McAllister giving chase.

   Barnett, who is considered to be an “Ultra athlete” never relinquished the lead and won the five miler in 29 minutes and 57 seconds.

   McAllister took second in 31:24 and was followed by Keith Marrack, 34:15; Adam Busek 35:37; and Stewart Hunter in 37:19.

   Top runners for the women were Hilo’s Sally Marrack who ran the entire way with her husband Keith and finished third overall in 34:14.  Marrack was also the top Hawaii Island finisher in the Big Island International Marathon just three weeks earlier.

   Following Marrack was Hilo High track coach, Lory Hunter who finished sixth overall and second for the women in 36:40 with Esther Kanehailua taking third for the women and ninth overall in 42:13.

   “I made it a point of coming to this race today because Emily (Wedeman) was a dear friend me and to everyone in the running community,” Adam Busek said after the race.

   She is surely missed.

Winners of the Emily Wedeman 5-miler pose with host Joe Wedemann (center)

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Hilo Boys, HPA Girls win BIIF track & field relays

     The Big Island Interscholastic Federation held its annual track & field relays this past Saturday with the Hilo boys and Hawaii Prep girls taking top team honors.

    Keaau’s Mtume Msizkizi-Jackson and Kohala’s Julia Naumes was selected by the BIIF Games Committee as the “Most Valuable” all around athletes from the relays meet.

   For Msizkizi-Jackson it was the second consecutive year that the Cougar senior had been named Most Valuable.

   “I was surprised to have been selected,” Msizkizi-Jackson said after receiving his plaque.  “I am happy that our team did well in the meet, as I will do whatever it takes to help my team.”

   The meet was scored for each of the relay events with the winner getting ten points, second place eight points, third place six points, down to sixth place receiving one point.

   After the official scorer, Bob Martin, tabulated the results it was the Hilo boys edging out Keaau by one point.

   Msizkizi-Jackson was entered in six events, the maximum allowed during a track & field meet, and excelled in each finishing no worse than second in all of his events.

   “I thought my triple jump was the worse of the season,” he said.  “I had trouble extending into the pit and felt that I could hardly make the jump.”  Despite his harsh criticism he was still able to hit 42 feet 1 inch to place second.

   Msizkizi-Jackson won the long jump and anchored his shuttle hurdle team to a first place finish while helping his teammates to second place finishes in the 4×100, 4×400 and sprint medley relays.

   The multi talented Cougar will be attending Malone University in Canton, Ohio on a football scholarship.  “I like track and I like the environment and friendly atmosphere, but I’ll play wide receiver in college because it will help me get an education,” he said

   Kohala senior, Julia Naumes, was selected Most Valuable due to her winning two individual events and her versatility in running several relay events, according to the Games Committee.

   Naumes, who came into Saturday’s meet ranked seventh in the state in the shot put, raised her state standing with a toss of 38 feet 1 inch.

   “That’s the farthest I’ve ever thrown,” an elated Naumes said after the meet.  “My furthest throw was 34’ 11.75” last year, but I’ve been throwing 35 and 36 feet during practice.”

   Naumes didn’t waste any time during the shot event launching her 38’ 1” toss on her first throw with an explosive finish.  “I didn’t think it was a good throw when I released the shot, but I knew that my release was good.”

    Kohala throwing coach and former state shot champion, Kealii Freitas, had high praise for Naumes.  “Her technique is finally coming together and her release at the end is coming around.  When she launched her first throw I knew it was a good one, then on her second throw she went over 36 feet,” he said.

    “Julia has the ability to throw over 40 feet and we’re happy that the BIIF and state championships are at Keaau as that is her favorite ring,” Freitas said.

    Later in the day Naumes went onto win the discus throw and later anchored a mixed team relay made up of throwers from Waiakea to win that event.

   Kohala has only four girls on their track team and Naumes is the only thrower, but the Cowgirls put together a distance relay with Naumes running the 1200 meter leg and the team finished in third place, good enough for six points.

     Honokaa’s Tialana Greenwell and Jake Shiraki won the prestigious “Distance Award” presented by Kohala coach, Tom McCue.

   Greenwell, just a sophomore, easily won the event by getting out quickly and separating herself from the rest of the field to win in 5:12.22.

   For teammate Shiraki it was a more difficult task as the senior was running in second for most of the race to Keaau’s Daniel Brooks.

   “I just wanted to keep it close and not let Daniel get away from me,” Shiraki said after the race.  “I knew he was good and I was hoping that it would come down to a sprint at the end.

    The Dragon senior got his way as Brooks led the entire way before Shiraki made his move in the final straightaway.  With 10 meters to go Shiraki slipped by Brooks to steal the victory away clocking 4:22.71 to Brooks 4:22.78.

     McCue, a longtime distance runner, makes the annual presentation for the top male and female 1500 meter runner.  For Greenwell this was her second consecutive victory and the third for the Greenwell family as her sister Alicia won the award in 2007.

    “I have another sister that will be running for us next year and she’s a good runner too,” Greenwell said.  

     Both Greenwell and Shiraki left the meet within an hour after winning the distance award to participate in Honokaa’s prom being held later that evening.

   HPA, who won the overall girl’s team title, was without several key athletes and coach, Pat Lau, had high praise for one of his girls.

   “Our team MVP for this meet has to be Sydney Budde,” he said.  “She had never done the pole vault before and she cleared 8 feet 6 inches to win that event.  We also used her in the 4×800 relays and the 1500 distance medley.”

   Lau felt that Budde, who is just a freshman, contribution was worthy of his team MVP honors as the Ka Makani went onto win all their distance events.

   The BIIF season returns to a regular track & field format with an all-schools meet scheduled for Konawaena with field events and the 3000 meter run starting at 9 a.m.

Honokaa's Tia Greenwell & Jake Shiraki are awarded koa bowls for being the top 1500 meter runners in the BIIF