Kathryn Taylor’s life path had long been dictated by straight, black lines. It’s what she saw when swimming competitively from the age of 4 through her college career at Columbia.

The pool was a metaphor for what she perceived as her future. Coming from a family of doctors and scientists, it seemed only natural she’d get her degree in environmental biology and go on to medical school.

Pretty straight forward … until that black line began to curve.

What initially began as a way to get into med school — retaking organic chemistry at the University of Hawaii — has transitioned into unexpected success as one of the top triathletes in the state. The 28-year-old Taylor is competing in her second major event in 15 days, the XTERRA World Championship Off-Road Triathlon.

Taylor is one of three from Hawaii — and 18 overall — attempting to complete the "Double-Double." The first leg was the Oct. 12 Iroman, where Taylor finished in 10 hours, 50 minutes and 35 seconds good for 1,120th overall, 178th among women and 26th in her age group.

Her Ironman time is the best among females vying for the "Double-Double" Award.

While there is a change of islands and courses, the mind-set remains the same for Taylor: be among the first out of the water and keep the lead.

"This will be my first XTERRA World and I’m excited to get over there and check out the course," Taylor said prior to leaving for Maui. "I know the (1-mile ocean) swim will have some waves and that the run will be hard. Running is the hardest (leg) but it’s becoming less of a hate relationship.

"I’m confident with my swimming and I always try to build on that positive energy coming out of the water to keep it going."

Taylor did just that when finishing first in her age group (and second female) at May’s Honu Triathlon, which is half the distance of the Ironman.

She was first out of the water following the 1.2-mile swim and kept that lead through the finish line, with a 5:13:53 qualifying her for the Ironman.

The Kailua resident also won her age group and finished second overall in July’s XTERRA Freedom Fest off-road triathlon at Kualoa Ranch, qualifying her for Sunday’s race.

Taylor had hoped swimming would take her farther, however, than Maui or Kona. When moving to Oahu the day after her Columbia graduation, part of the plan was to train for the 2008 Olympics in swimming.

When that didn’t work out, the Ann Arbor, Mich., native turned her athletic focus to ocean swimming and triathlons, the latter being where she first gained notice at the Tinman. It wasn’t just her time that earned her attention after the race; it was her attire.

Taylor wore a two-piece bathing suit and put on running shorts instead of wearing the traditional one-piece triathlon suit worn for the entire race.

"I had not the first clue," Taylor said. "I was fine with what I was wearing. Then this triathlon coach came up to me and said, if I was going to do that well, I had to learn what to wear.

"I think I’ve come a long way since then."

She does have the right equipment when using a mountain bike for the off-road races. But she still does not have a pair of trail shoes and plans to use a pair of old running shoes Sunday.

"I’m fine with that," she said. "I believe in starting with the basics and once you get better then invest. I don’t have a fancy mountain bike and I’ll be wearing what I wore for the Ironman."

It’s been a good racing year for Taylor, a shift manager at Starbucks and instructor at BC Endurance Training. It’s included a third world championship event with July’s Molokai to Oahu World Paddleboard Championship.

"I was told I was crazy to do that and it was hard, almost as hard as Kona (the Ironman)," said Taylor, who finished the 32-mile prone paddleboard race 40th overall in 7:55:40. "But paddleboarding is part of being in the ocean here. You get to see so many amazing things in the water.

"During my swim (Wednesday off Kailua Beach Park) I saw an eel and a blowfish. It’s part of what I love about living here. And, as I tell my family, I am going to live here until I have a very good reason to leave. After six years, there’s been no good reason."

Taylor, however, is coming up on a crossroads for her future. The black lines at the intersection lead in different directions, one to apply for med school, the other to become a professional triathlete.

"I have a big decision to make pretty soon," she said. "My times are up there (with the pros) so that has me thinking about that. If it’s med school, then it probably will be something sports-related, like orthopedic surgery."

REC CENTER

Youngest windsurfer set for pro event

Wiley Daniel, an 8-year-old windsurfer from Honolulu, is slated to become the youngest competitor in a professional windsurfing event at the JP Aloha Classic, which began its holding period today off Hookipa Beach Park, Maui.

The Classic is part of the American Windsurfing Tour as well as the Professional Windsurfers Association World Tour, the latter of which returns to Maui for the first time since 2006.

The competition features 100 of the world’s top windsurfers, with the holding period running through Nov. 6. The top pros from the American Windsurfing Tour brackets will advance as wild cards into the PWA brackets. Daniel, a third-grader at Waldorf School, was given a sponsor’s exemption into the event.

» alohaclassicmaui.com

HIC Pro kicks off big-wave season

Former ASP world champion Sunny Garcia returns to defend his title at the HIC Pro, the Hawaii qualifier for the upcoming Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Garcia won last year’s HIC Pro at age 42, 20 years after winning his first title at Sunset Beach. The holding period for the $95,000, 4-star-rated event is Tuesday through Nov. 10.

A live webcast is available for the contest at vans.com/hicpro.

The Triple Crown of Surfing runs Nov. 12 through Dec. 20. The events are the Reef Hawaiian Pro, Nov. 12-23, at Haleiwa’s Ali‘i Beach; the Vans World Cup of Surfing, Nov. 24-Dec. 6, at Sunset Beach; and the Billabong Pipe Masters, Dec. 8-20, at the Banzai Pipeline.

Australia’s Joel Parkinson is the defending ASP world champion. Hawaii’s Sebastian Zietz is the defending Triple Crown champion.

Club polo seasons coming to an end

Polo season at the Hawaii Polo Club in Mokuleia and Honolulu Polo Club in Waimanalo conclude Sunday.

The Hawaii Polo Club’s 50th season finale is a "Great Gatsby" theme with spectators encouraged to wear "Roaring ’20s" attire. Games open at 11 a.m. with the USPA Ambassador’s Cup matches starting at 2 p.m. Admission is $8 for military, $10 for open seating and $25 for clubhouse seating. There is no charge for children 14 and under.

Gates at the Honolulu Polo Club open at 1 p.m. with matches celebrating its 27th season starting at 3 p.m. General admission is $5. There is no charge for children under 12.

» hawaii-polo.org

» honolulupolo.com

Amateur bouts set for Palolo

Kailua Boxing Club’s Ernesto Orantes takes on Treston Savoy of Pearlside Boxing Club in the main event of Saturday’s ninth Clint Shelton Memorial at Palolo District Park.

The first bout is scheduled for 7 p.m. Admission is $10.

» amateurboxingofhawaii.com

Friends of Kailua High runs set

The Friends of Kailua High School will holds its annual fundraiser, with two run-walk courses, on Nov. 10.

Participants can choose a 5K (3.1 miles) or a 10K (6.2 miles). Both events start at 7 a.m. at the school.

Entry fees are $15 (no T-shirt) and $25 (with T-shirts). Packet pickup and late registration at the school is Nov. 9 from noon until 3 p.m., and race morning from 6-6:30 a.m.

For information, call 223-5720 or 225-2965.

» friendsofkailuahigh.com

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