The Kaiwi Solo/Molokai OC1 World Championships one-person outrigger canoe paddling event scheduled for Saturday morning was canceled because of an approaching storm that was on track to bring thunderstorms and high surf to the already treacherous Kaiwi Channel.
In a Facebook post by event organizers Paddling Athletes Association (PA‘A Hawaii), the committee prioritized the safety of paddlers, escort boat teams and race officials when making the decision.
“As this week has progressed, so has the unfavorable weather forecast,” said organizers in a statement on the PA‘A Hawaii Facebook page. “What started out as light and variable winds has now turned into high speed (southwest) winds up to 29 mph accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning storms.”
The Coast Guard issued a small craft advisory Saturday morning, and the approaching weather front was expected to reach the Kaiwi Channel around noon on Saturday. Organizers had explored the option of moving the race to today, but logistics involved with lodging and transporting the 100-plus participants and their escort teams on Molokai for an additional night made that move unfeasible.
The race spans nearly 32 miles from Kaluakoi, Molokai, to Maunalua Bay on Oahu’s south shore. Last year, Kevin Ceran-Jerusalemy of Tahiti won the men’s open competition in 4 hours, 8 minutes and 11 seconds while Monica Esquivel of Waianae claimed the women’s open title (5:08:30).
University of Hawaii softball splits with Cal State Northridge
The Hawaii softball team scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to topple Cal State Northridge 4-3 and earn a split of a doubleheader Saturday in Northridge, Calif.
Madison Veldman led off the seventh with a home run and Sissy Pantastico scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball with two outs.
The Rainbow Wahine’s Brittany Hitchcock scattered seven hits in a complete-game performance.
In the first game, Nicole Lopez and Alyssa Sojka each had two hits for Hawaii in a 3-1 loss. Callee Heen drove in the Rainbow Wahine’s only run in the third inning.
Izzy Dino allowed three runs – two earned — over five innings for Hawaii.
The Rainbow Wahine moved to 32-14, 13-5 Big West, while the Matadors went to 25-26, 9-9.
University of Hawaii’s Abbott wins bronze in heptathlon
Hawaii’s Calli-Ann Abbott won the bronze medal in the heptathlon at the Big West Multi-Event Championships on Saturday in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Abbott, a junior from British Columbia, Canada, scored 5,258 points.
On Saturday, she set personal bests in the long jump (5.72 meters), javelin (39.58 meters) and 800 meters (2:32.41).
Rainbow Wahine junior Aubrie Usui placed 11th in the heptathlon with 4,171 points.
Paul Lecomte will speak at QB Club
Paul Lecomte, the project manager for “The Swim,” will be the featured speaker at the Honolulu Quarterback Club on Monday at Maple Garden Restaurant.
Lecomte will recount his experience escorting long-distance swimmer Ben Lecomte in his attempt to swim from Japan to California last year. Damage to an escort boat forced Ben Lecomte to abandon his journey short of Hawaii.
The luncheon, which is $17, will start at 11:30 a.m. and the program will follow at noon.
