KENNEWICK – J. Michael Kelly, steering Graham Trucking, easily outran the field Saturday to take the overall lead during preliminary heats for today’s Columbia Cup race for unlimited hydroplanes.

Kelly outpaced his three challengers over three laps with an average speed of 151.254 mph, the fastest of the day. Jimmy King in Grandview on the Lake came in second, followed by Nate Brown in West Pasco Family Dental and then J.W. Myers aboard Hoss Mortgage Investors. Ken Muscatel did not start in ServPro.

Steve David, the defending Columbia Cup champion, won the day’s other preliminary heat aboard Oh Boy! Oberto with an average speed of 146.448 mph. David trailed Dave Villwock driving Ellstrom E-Lam Plus across the finish line but Villwock was penalized a lap for moving in front of another boat just before the start.

Villwock, who won the first two races of the season and leads in point standings, came in sixth as a result of the penalty.

Second in the heat went to Jeff Bernard driving Formulaboats.com, and third went to Greg Hopp at the wheel of Jerry’s Tavern. Fourth was Brian Perkins in Albert Lee and Mike Webster finished fifth in Matrix Systems.

David, who is also the defending national champion, was handed a lesser penalty for a lane violation, which put him just behind Kelly in the preliminaries for today’s race.

There are two more rounds of preliminary heats today. The top six boats will compete in the winner-take-all final.