Aloha from Honolulu and the masters nationals
Coming from Paradise (San Diego), I’m still amazed at THIS Paradise. Weather was in low 80s when I arrived this afternoon after a 5-hour flight. Good omen: I couldn’t feel the bum-bump of my 767 landing — it was that smooth. Checked in at the University of Hawaii dorm (after Jim and Lynn Naftel gave me a ride from the airport, thanks!) The dorm is circular — like those iconic Tower Records stores. My room on the seventh floor has an open-air viewing area where Diamondhead is off in the distance. Gorgeous.
The meet doesn’t start for a couple days, but I wanted to have a chance to soak in the island ambience. My assigned roommate (who I’ve gotten to know well via phone calls) is an M80 sprinter from Pittsburgh named Ray Bower. He’s coming in later today. In the dorm lobby, I ran into M75 sprinter Wilford Scott of Elgin, Texas, wearing track shoes without spikes. Wilford (shown in 2005) ran at the Penn Relays 100 a few years back when M100 legend Everett Hosack stole the show.
Just feet from the dorm entrance is a computer lab (air-conditioned, unlike the dorms) that is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hence this Internet access. I’ll try to report what I can when I can get here.
I took a five-minute stroll down a slight grade to the Cooke track — set among a bunch of small stadia for softball, baseball, soccer and swimming. The multicolored track is a Mondo beauty — great gripping power. But the wind appears to be a crosswind for sprinters. Might pose a problem for oval races. But the trade winds might let up at different hours. But I ain’t complaining!
Off to explore the island now.
2 Responses
Hey Ken, glad to see you made it here and are settled in already! Welcome to Hawaii!
We are now “neighbors” –we live on the hills behind the dorms! My husband and I were down there this morning at the track working out, getting ready for the meet. We have already met some of the other athletes too. Everyone has been real friendly and look happy to be here!
We will be down there again tommorow afternoon to pick up our packets. Hopefully we will see you there!
Aloha!
Hi Ken,
Good to see you on the entry list of your Nationals. Looks like a great place to be and to enjoy both the island and a good track meet.
Good luck competing the 100 & HJ and above all ….. have lots of fun!
Eugene van Kruchten (The Netherlands)
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