Alexandre Ribeiro, of Rio de Janerio, and son Kaillani enjoy their moment at the finish line of the Ultraman Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 at Old Airport Beach Park in Kailua-Kona. (Photo by Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com)

Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com Contributing Editor

KAILUA-KONA — Alexandre Ribeiro has added another Ultraman world champion title to his resume but still a few to win to pull even with Shanna Armstrong, who earned her fifth crown Sunday at the conclusion of the 2008 Ultraman endurance race.

Ribeiro, a 43-year-old personal trainer from Rio de Janeiro who also won the title in 2003 and 2005, crossed the finish line just behind Miro Kregar of Slovenia, but his three-day time of 21 hours, 49 minutes and 38 seconds was best in the field.

Kregar, who collapsed in tears after completing his third Ultraman, had a three-day total of 22:35:24.

Miro Kregar flies the Slovenian flag as he crosses the finish line Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 at Old Airport Beach Park in Kailua-Kona. His second place run time was good enough to earn him the Ultraman third place overall. (Photo by Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com)

The run times turned in by Kregar, 46, and Ribeiro were the fifth and sixth fastest run times in the 24-year history of the ultra-endurance race around the Big Island. Ribeiro was just eight minutes off the course record.

Brazilian Carlos Conceicao, 44, rounded out the top three runners, but was pipped for a podium finish by Tony O’Keefe, a 47-year-old lieutenant colonel in the Canadian military who finished the run fourth. O’Keefe’s total time of 22:31:54 earned him second place honors.

It was O’Keefe’s fourth Ultraman and his fourth second place finish.

Canadian Lt.. Col. Tony O'Keefe was pleased with a second place finish Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 in the Ultraman. (Photo by Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com)

Ribeiro said he had a great race, but was glad to see the finish line and his 11-year-old son, Kaillani.

“I love to do the long distances. The last 10 miles was hot, but it’s a perfect day for Hawaii. We had some back wind,” he said. “I am the most fit this year. I have no problems.”

Will he be back next year to defend his crown?

“Yes, yes, I love Ultraman, I love the family of Ultraman, I love the island,” he said.

Tech Dog, an official volunteer, mans his post at the finish line Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 at Old Kona Airport Beach Park. He was in charge of soggy tennis balls and finding the best spot in the shade. (Photo by Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com)

Jane Bockus, race director, said the weekend started with some interference from jellyfish during the 6.2-mile swim Friday morning from Kailua Bay to Keauhou Bay.

Kelly Duhig, of Australia, had to make a trip to the emergency room for treatment after being severely stung, Bockus said, but rejoined the race in Volcano with a doctor’s clearance. Kona resident Jason Lester also suffered jellyfish stings, but powered through them.

The athletes – who swim 6.2 miles, bike 261.4 miles, then top it off with a 52.4 mile run – compete for nothing more than a trophy, a T-shirt and the love of the lava.

“There is no prize money and there never will be,” Bockus said. “The first place trophy is exactly the same as the last place trophy. Anybody who finishes is a winner. These are really special people.”

The three-day, 320-mile ultra-endurance event that takes place annually on the Big Island is limited to 35 participants and is by invitation only. Founded in 1983, the event is held on the traditional Thanksgiving weekend.

The race begins with an ocean swim from Kailua Bay to Keauhou Bay, followed by a cross-country bike ride around the southern tip of the island to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Vertical climbs total 7,600 feet.

Day 2 is a 171.4-mile bike ride from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park along the east side of the island, cutting west and finishing at Kohala Village Inn on Hawi Road. Vertical climbs total 8,600 feet.

Day 3 is a 52.4-mile double-marathon run from Hawi south to Kailua-Kona finishing on the beach at the Old Airport State Park.

Each stage must be completed in 12 hours or less. The swim should be completed in 5-1/2 hours.

This year, participants hail from
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States. More than 50 percent of the field had participated in at least one previous Ultraman.

Carlos Conceicao was the second Brazilian endurance triathlete across the finish line Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 at Old Airport Beach Park. He started the final day in 10th spot, but his run time moved him up to fifth overall for the 2008 Ultraman. (Photo by Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com)

Shanna Armstrong, of Lubbock, Texas, claimed her fifth Ultraman title, storming to a 3:14 lead going into the final day. Her final time of 26:25:03 earned her a remarkable 10th place overall.

Warren Hollinger’s time of 31:14:37 gave him Big Island bragging rights and a 21st place finish, ahead of Jason Lester (32:01:43 – 24th place) and Cory Foulk (32:26:09 – 26th place).

Ultraman 2008 Final Standings

Bib #	Name		Age	Gender	Time	Rank
456	Ribeiro	Alex.	43	M	21:49:38	 1
452	O’Keefe	Tony	47	M 	22:31:54	 2
447	Kregar	Miro	46	M	22:35:24	 3
446	Kotland	Peter	36	M	23:38:48	 4
432	Conceicao Carlos44	M	24:27:17	 5
459	Seedhouse Erik	44	M	24:37:08	 6
424	Ajram	Josef	30	M	24:40:38	 7
442	Gower	Scott	44	M	25:24:28	 8
451	Mueller	Peter	46	M 	26:05:05	 9
427	Armstrong S	34	F	26:25:03	 10
457	Roll Richard	42	M	26:33:42	 11
461	Wang Gary       41	M	26:41:52	 12
438	Ford Mark	46	M	26:43:44	 13
460	Smallwood Brian	53	M	26:51:21	 14
450	LopesDias Beto	45	M	27:22:11	 15
455	Raymond Marty	46	M	27:52:10	 16
429	Bodden Dan	41	M	29:08:17	 17
435	Dewald Stephen	40	M	30:16:05	 18
453	Patzina Roland	42	M	30:17:39	 19
440	Franks Duane	49	M	30:24:21	 20
443	Hollinger Warren43	M	31:14:37	 21
434	Degazon Suzy	44	F	31:23:52	 22
444	Holt	Darwin	46	M	31:38:36	 23
448	Lester Jason	34	M	32:01:43	 24
433	Crandell Todd	41	M	32:03:33	 25
439	Foulk	Cory	49	M	32:26:09	 26
431	Calil	Paulo	36	M	32:33:34	 27
426	Alessi Riccardo 39	M	32:36:44	 28
454	PaulsonCatherine41	F	32:48:22	 29
430	Bradley Bill	48	M	33:01:34	 30
449	Loomis Gil	58	M	33:11:33	 31
428	Bialla	Vito	60	M	33:27:35	 32
441	LunaFreire Alex.42	M	34:20:58	 34
458	Rouse Mike	56	M	-	         DNF
436	Duhig	Kelly	40	M	-	         DNF
445	Holton Leslie	40	F	-	         DNF
---
290	Team BMW	        M/M/F	29:13:24	 1
289	Team Deux Chevaux       M/M	32:33:11	 2
291	Team Indi N Phil	M/F	33:14:56	 3

 

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Ultraman World Championship: http://ultramanlive.com
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