Cynthia Monteleone (right) recently traveled to Poland to compete in the 2023 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships. Competing for Team USA, she won bronze and silver medals in relay races.

LAHAINA — West Side community activist Cynthia Monteleone has attained another milestone in her positive action lifestyle.

A wife, mom, business entrepreneur, coach, health advisor and community artist, Monteleone recently returned to the competitive track arena at the international level with remarkable results.

At the 2023 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships track meet at Torun, Poland, from March 26 through April 1, Monteleone, age 47, decided to forego pursuing gold again in her usual event — the 400 meters — and try something different.

About six months ago, she began training in the pentathlon, an event made up of five individual events: the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800-meter run.

It was her hope to inspire others that it’s never too late to learn new things, and you don’t have to be good at something to start.

In fact, she barely knew how to do most of the events, having never hurdled or long jumped before.

As their coach, the Lahainaluna High School track team kids helped her with encouragement and tips from their experience in the events.

She carried that inspiration with her to Poland, where she placed fifth in the high jump and sixth overall in the pentathlon. She was then selected to run the 4 x 200 Team USA women’s relay that won the bronze medal, and the 4 x 200 mixed relay that took silver and set a new American record.

“Sometimes it’s not about the medals but more the experience itself. Learning new things and keeping the brain and body active and challenged is a great path to health and happiness,” Monteleone concluded.

In 2019, she wrote a book, “Fast Over 40,” encouraging running for brain and body health.