Kailua senior Lauren Kadooka poses after winning the girls' individual title in the Civilian Marksmanship Program/HHSAA Air Riflery Championships. Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

Punahou captured its first Civilian Marksmanship Program state air riflery girls championship since 2011 in record fashion Tuesday at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

The Buffanblu tallied 2,137 points, shattering the previous best set of 2,130.63 by Sacred Hearts Academy in 2009.

The 18^th annual meet featured a new format for individual scoring. The top eight individual marksmen after the qualification round advanced to the final, adding drama as shooters could change their positions for individual honors.

It did not affect Kailua senior Lauren Kadooka, who won the individual title with a 640 score. She entered the final leading with a 551 scored did not relinquish her position. She had the third-best score among the eight finalists at 89.1, but her regular meet score was high enough to fend off a strong run by Mekayla King of Waiakea.

"I was surprised," Kadooka said. "I didn't think I would do was (well) as I did."

She is the first individual champion from the Oahu Interscholastic Association since Pearl City's Jolana Gollero in 2006. Most OIA schools complete in outdoor ranges, including Kailua. So shooting in an indoor and air conditioned environment was an improvement for Kadooka.

"I just shoot how I usually shoot," Kadooka said. "When we're outside you have to deal with the wind, rain, so shooting here, indoors, is a lot better."

Benefitting from the new format was King, who was seventh after the qualification round but ended up second after the finals. Her 95.7 points was the highest among the final eight to boost her overall score to 629.7.

"I really enjoyed the new format, but not because of how I moved (up the standings)," King said. "(I liked) how it adds to the pressure. It gives a little bit more meaning to what you do. You have to focus even though you're already up in the higher numbers.

"It adds a little more fairness. You have chance to improve."

The final eight shooters' scores did not factor into the team scoring, so Punahou's record score was amazing. It is higher than the boys' record of 2,129 set by Saint Louis in the inaugural tournament in 1999. Both genders shoot under the same circumstances. This was Punahou's sixth overall title, all coached by Karen Finley.

"I was surprised," Baptist said of the record, "but I knew we all tried our best. I think there was a lot of team support. Practices, we all encouraged each other like it was a match as well."

The only common denominator is the Buffanblu practices indoors. The difference is they practice in a basement that does not have air conditioning, unlike the exhibition hall.

Also on the Buffanblu title team are: Joli Hamada, Heidi Kwock and Mackenzie Martines.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu took the top three spots. Mid-Pacific was second (2,106 points) and Kamehameha was third (2,094).

In air riflery, the competitors are scored from the prone, standing and kneeling positions. The final phase was limited to standing only.