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SPECIAL COVERAGE

How did the local Ironman athletes fare at the Ironman World Championship in Kona?

October 26, 2024, 10:09 PM HST
* Updated October 27, 12:01 PM
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Thirty-year-old Michael Kemp poses for photos after completing the 2024 VInFast Ironman World Championship in his hometown of Kona in a time of 13:23:13. (Cammy Clark/Big Island Now)
Thirty-year-old Michael Kemp poses for photos after completing the 2024 VInFast Ironman World Championship in his hometown of Kona in a time of 13:23:13. (Cammy Clark/Big Island Now)

The VinFast Ironman World Championship Saturday had moments of chaos, where one after another athletes crossed the finish line, with some dancing and others collapsing.

But each of the approximately 2,300 participants that crossed the finish line on Aliʻi Drive in Kona on Saturday heard their name and the announcer saying “You are an Ironman.” This included at least 13 of the 16 triathletes from the Big Island that participated this year in the grueling 140.6-mile swim, bike and run race.

Laurentiu Grigore, 46, of Waikōloa finished the Ironman World Championship in 2017 and 2022, and this year had the goal to complete the course in under 11 hours.

“I don’t know if I did it, but I think I almost did it, I don’t know,” he said as he walked through the grounds of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort, wrapped in an Ironman towel to get food, hydration and rest.

According to the Ironman Athlete Tracker app, Grigore came in at 10:57:55, placing 198th out of 339 in his age group and 1,225th overall in what he thought was fantastic weather.

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“It was overcast, although there was a little bit of wind,” Grigore said, adding on the way back to town on the bike it was windier than he wanted.

“But you know, you cannot have all the perfect conditions,” Grigore said. “But I think this was like the most overcast of all the previous Ironmans.”

Grigore was particularly proud of his run, saying he couldn’t believe he pushed so hard.

“I wanted to go under four hours on the run, and I did,” he said.

Kaiden Lieto, 21, of Kona, starts the marathon, the last leg of the Ironman World Championship race on Oct. 26, 2024. (Tiffany DeMasters/Big Island Now)

Kaiden Lieto, 21, of Kona was the first Kona athlete to cross the finish line.

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Lieto clocked in at 9:58:12, placing 41st out of 59 for the 18-24 age group. He finished his swim in 52:17, followed by a 5:45:04 bike and a 4:07:24 marathon.

Thirty-year-old Michael Kemp of Kona finished his first Ironman World Championship with a time of 13:23:13, placing 200th out of 204 in the 30-34 age group despite starting the day being stung by a jellyfish.

Walking back toward the hotel he said he felt accomplished and happy for himself.

“I had a couple moments where I didn’t think I’d finish,” Kemp said. “Mile 85 on the bike and mile 21 on the run. They were tough.”

Michael Kemp, 30, of Kona, leaving downtown Kailua-Kona to tackle the VinFast Ironman World Championship bike course. (Tiffany DeMasters/Big Island Now)
Michael Kemp, 30, of Kona, leaves downtown Kailua-Kona to tackle the VinFast Ironman World Championship bike course. (Tiffany DeMasters/Big Island Now)

Kemp said his body was turning off and he had to find a “new on switch.”

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One reason to keep going was for his fundraising. As a member of the Team Ironman Foundations fundraising team, Kemp said the hardest part of the Ironman was raising nearly $27,000 that will go toward volunteerism grants and keiki in the community.

“I feel appreciative of everyone from my family, friends, to volunteers, coworkers, community,” Kemp said.

At the end of it all, Kemp said every one should try hard things.

“I don’t have to do this every year, but I mean, try it. Who cares if you don’t finish? Just give it a shot,” Kemp said. “Go to the start line.”

Toi "Gary" Wong finished the 2024 VinFast Ironman World Championship in his hometown of Kona in a time of 12:23:09, but across the finish line he carried the flag of his home country, Malaysia. (Cammy Clark/Big Island Now)
Toi “Gary” Wong finished the 2024 VinFast Ironman World Championship in his hometown of Kona in a time of 12:23:09, but across the finish line he carried the flag of his home country, Malaysia. (Cammy Clark/Big Island Now)

Toi “Gary” Wong of Kona had been trying for three years to get into Ironman. On Saturday, he finished the iconic race with a time of 12:23:09.

The 49-year-old, who is a housing and community development specialist with Hawaiʻi County, placed 270th out of 335 for the 45-49 age group.

After walking off the carpet at the finish line, Wong said he was tired, but happy he finished.

Wong also was stung by jellyfish on his neck and face.

Toi "Gary" Wong finished the 2024 VinFast Ironman World Championship in his hometown of Kona in a time of 12:23:09. (Cammy Clark/Big Island Now)
Toi “Gary” Wong finished the 2024 VinFast Ironman World Championship in his hometown of Kona in a time of 12:23:09. (Cammy Clark/Big Island Now)

“Many people got stung in the water, but perfect weather today,” said Wong, a native of Malaysia.

To read about the pro athletes in the 2024 Ironman World Championship, click here.

Here are the list of the 13 Ironman World Championship finishers from the Big Island as of 10 p.m. Saturday:

  • Jose Graca: 9:12:47, 2nd out of 411 in his 50-54 age group.
  • Kaiden Lieto: 9:58:15, 41st out of 57 in his 18-24 age group.
  • Robert Loveridge: 10:54:34, 47th out of 276 in his 55-59 age group.
  • Laurentiu Grigore: 10:57:55, 198th out of 335 in his 45-49 age group.
  • Keish Doi: 11:07:52, 63rd out of 276 for his 55-59 age group.
  • Steffen Brocks: 11:28:30, 91st out of 276 in his 55-59 age group.
  • Daniel Hill: 11:36:33, 213th out of 411 in his 50-54 age group.
  • Toi “Gary” Wong: 12:23:09, 270th out of 335 in 45-49 age group.
  • Lloyd Gillespie: 12:29:19, 276th out of 335 for his 45-49 age group.
  • Anthony Kotas: 12:29:24, 161st out of 276 in his 55-59 age group.
  • Michael Breen: 12:37:07, 274th out of 409 in his 50-54 age group.
  • Timothy Connelly: 13:12:06, 185th out of 276 for his 55-59 age group.
  • Michael Kemp: 13:23:13, 200th out of 204 in his 30-34 age group.
  • Ian Hersey: 14:24:17, 115th out of 159 in his 60-64 age group.
  • Ron Kalich: 14:31:31, 232nd out of 275 in his age group 55-59.
  • Alexander Hsia: 16:08:13, 152nd out of 159 for his age group 60-64.

Andrew Loeb did not finish the race within the cutoff time.

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