Harold (Ky) Cole

Harold (Ky) Cole dominated running in Hawaii (road and track races) from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, rarely losing a race.  Cole set records and then proceeded to repeatedly break his own records at every distance from 1 mile to 25 kilometers.  The following is an example of one year of Cole’s racing results: 

1/3/1965 – 1st place, Hawaiian AAU 10-mile race.  Winner for 2nd straight year in a time of 50:31, breaking the record he set in the preceding year. 

2/14/1965 – 1st place, Hawaiian AAU 15.5-mile race.  Set new record of 1:21:56, breaking his own record. 

2/28/1965 – 1st place, Hawaiian Road Runners Club 15-K race.  Set new record of 48:19. 

3/27/1965 — 1st place, 3-mile race, All-Comers Track & Field at Cooke Field.  Time of 15:10.4 broke his own record set in 1962. 

4/3/1965 – 1st place, 3-mile race, All-Comers Track & Field at Cooke Field.  Time of 14:52.5 broke his own record set the prior week.   

5/20/1965 – 1st place, 6-mile race, Hawaiian AAU Track & Field Championships at Alexander Field. 

7/4/1965 – 1st place, Hawaii Road Runners’ Club 10-mile Race at Kapiolani Park. 

8/7/1965 – 1st place, Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club 4.5-mile Cross Country Race at Kapiolani Park.  Set new record of 23:31. 

10/2/1965 – 1st place, 4.3-mile cross country race at University of Hawaii. 

10/16/1965 – Fastest time at Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club 12-mile Handicap Race.   

10/30/1965 – 1st place, Mid-Pacific Roadrunners Club 2-mile Cross Country Race at Kapiolani Park. 

11/17/1965 – Honored as Outstanding Long Distance Runner at the Annual Hawaiian AAU Banquet.  Champion in 5-mile, 10-mile, 15.5-mile and marathon races. 

12/5/1965 – 1st place, Hawaiian AAU 5.2-mile Road Race. 

12/23/1965 – 1st place, Hawaiian AAU 10-K Race at Kapiolani Park.  Set new course record of 32:30. 

Cole ran in the 1950s and 1960s, which was before the “running boom”.  Although the number of racers was not large, the regular reporting in the newspaper of each race during that time indicated that distance racing was highly respected in Honolulu.  Track meets were as prevalent as road races.  The day after each road race or track meet, there was a news article that described the race and the leaders, accompanied by the race results.  There were even articles announcing each upcoming race and who was expected to be among the leaders. 

Cole’s nickname, Ky, is a nod to his hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky.  Cole first came to Hawaii as a member of the U.S. Marine Corp at the age of 20 in the mid-1950s.  After finishing his military service, he returned to Kentucky.  However, his love for Hawaii and its running scene resulted in his quick return to study at and run for the University of Hawaii.  Cole met and married June, a local girl.  After graduating from UH, he became a history teacher at Kalani High School.  Ky and his wife, June, raised Lars, Scott and Kyla in Hawaii, with the whole family running in road races. During that time, there were multiple running families.  The three Cole children all eventually ran for Kalani High School.  After retiring, Ky and June moved to Kentucky.  Cole passed away in 2015.