Big Dog’s 5K Run/Walk Kicks Off Sports Hall of Fame Day

5K winners Kaylene Peric and Keoni Ucker

Sunday, August 22, was proclaimed by Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi as Big Island Sports Hall of Fame Day. 

A trio of events highlighted the day in which tribute was paid to those who have been inducted and those to be inducted into the BISHF.

The morning started out with a 5K (3.1-mile) run/walk with the start and finish line in the parking area of Moku Ola.

University of Hawaii cross country coach, Jaime Guerpo, was on hand along with a group of Vulcan harriers which used the event as a preseason tune up.

 “This race is a good measuring stick to see where my runners are at and whether or not they have been training during the off season,” Guerpo said.

Leading the way for most of the race was UHH star and former Christian Liberty Academy harrier, Keoni Ucker, who made Coach Guerpo proud.  Ucker was challenged during the first half-mile of the race by teammate Zach Johnson.

“I had not been training as much as I wanted to during the summer,” Ucker said after the race.  “I don’t want to peak to early prior to the season and I’m satisfied where I’m at right now.”

Ucker won the race with a finishing time of 16 minutes and 11 seconds, nearly a full minute ahead of Johnson who clocked in at 17:08.

UHH had seven men and five women racing as they swept most of the top spots in the overall race results.  Former CLA and UHH standout Justin Pang took third, 17:11; Andrew Holbrook, 17:13; and Scott Hunter was fifth in 17:23.

Hunter runs track and field for Central Washington University where he competes in the pole vault and decathlon events.  On Saturday the former Hilo High grad won the Rain Forest Funs 5K in 18 minutes.

For the women it was UHH tennis player, Kaylene Peric, finishing 19^th overall, while taking first for the ladies division in 20:25.

“I’m originally from Michigan, but I’ve been attending UHH and study in the pharmacy department,” Peric said.  “I don’t really race, but I like to run and today I just wanted to see what I could do.”

Peric plans on being a walk on for the Vulcan’s cross-country team this year as she finds the flexibility afforded her in the team’s practice schedule is more conducive to her school schedule.

Following Peric for the women was Kirsta Andrew, 21:22; Nina Hagemann, 21:45; Lory Hunter, 21:48; and Melissa Braswell in 22:21.

The youngest member of the group was 8 year old Romeo Tebelan from Kalanianaole Elementary School who traversed the course in 38:26.

Marisa and Harlina Manley

Also on hand were family members of the late Hamilton Manley, a basketball legend who was later in the day to be inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.

“My dad always used to have us involved in a variety of 5K and 10K running events,” Harlina Manley said.  “My daughter, Brittany, and I flew in from California to be part of my dad’s induction into the Sports Hall of Fame.”

“We used to do races together as a family including the Saddle Road Relay,” Marisa Manley, widow of Hamilton said.  “Today brought back some emotional moments for us as we feel connected with Hamilton through doing these races.”

Hamilton Manley’s sons, Isaac who lives on the Big Island, and Harlan from Oregon, also were part of the day’s events honoring a man that gave so much to his family and community.

Later in the morning the venue moved to Prince Kuhio Plaza where seven new members joined the already 114 previously selected individual Big Island sports heros. 

The seven people that were inducted into the BISHF 12^th class were Richard Nakano, Karate; Mo Mathews, swimming; Harold “Russian” Furtado, track & field;   Manny Veincent, outrigger canoe paddling;  Ruth E.K. Walker, Aikido; Hamilton Manley, basketball;  and Francis “Bo” Saiki, baseball/softball.

The BISHF day concluded with a luncheon at the Nani Mau Gardens where county and state proclamations were given out, along with individualized plaques.

Related Post with race summary and photos at:  http://bigislandrunningcompany.com/Big_Island_Running_Company/Blog.html

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Big Dog’s Sports Hall of Fame 5K Results

Start of Big Dog's Sports Hall of Fame 5K

Big Dog’s Sports Hall of Fame 5K Results:   Times are correct but spelling of names may be wrong, so please let me know.

Keoni	Ucker	16:11
Zach	Johnson	17:08
Justin	Pang	17:11
Andrew	Holbrook	17:13
Scott	Hunter	17:23
Nick	Hagemann	17:31
Jerry	Noruyn	17:44
Don	Bintley	18:17
Rick	Michaels	18:24
Louie	Perry	18:30
Garrett	McAllister	18:41
Mike	Daly	19:03
Alan	Ryan	19:08
James	Imai	19:24
Derek	Dominguez	19:32
Robert	Otsubo	19:44
Andrew	Langtry	19:47
Ray	Whitford	20:03
Kaylene	Peric	20:25
Brian	Yannutz	20:36
Williamson	Marshall	20:50
Paul	Mauser	21:09
Kirsta	Andrew	21:22
Zandrix	Acob	21:32
Jaime	Guerpo	21:34
Nina	Hagemann	21:45
Lory	Hunter	21:48
Melissa	Braswell	22:21
Anic	Helms	23:04
Donovan	Macanas	23:09
Kaylee	Rapoza	23:11
Nadia	Ramirez	23:15
Dena	Rae	23:19
Steve	Pavao	23:36
DJ	Blinn	23:36
Don	Zimbeck	24:25:00
Roy	Yamada	24:29:00
Liliana	Desmither	24:49:00
Napua	Lapere	25:24:00
Michelle	Guitard	25:25:00
Michelle	Whitford	25:52:00
Jon	Kunitake	25:52:00
Kaeo	Mateo	25:59:00
Luis	Acob	26:03:00
Arnold	Swark	26:06:00
James	Shauli	26:40:00
David	Hammes	26:49:00
Shannon	Curtis	27:08:00
Charlie	Bostwick	28:46:00
Stan	Fortuna	30:33:00
Jenny	Hulica	30:30:00
Paul	Deeter	32:19:00
Christine	Bird	32:53:00
Richard	Alderson	33:21:00
Searle	Grace	33:26:00
Jerry	Chang	33:59:00
Betty	Makua	34:30:00
Richard	Crowe	34:38:00
Rachel	Clute	35:23:00
Mykelah	Daly	35:35:00
Romeo	Tebelan	38:23:00
Briette	Corpuz	38:26:00
Malcolm	Makua	41:04:00
Bruce	Tebelan	43:55:00
Marisa	Manley	52:22:00
Harlina	Manley	52:22:00