Track and Field
KS-Kapalama boys three-peat, HPA wins girls title


 



KAPALAMA HEIGHTS—With the home field advantage, the Kamehameha-Kapalama boys' track team made it three in a row, while Hawaii Prepatory Academy won the girls title on the final day of the 2016 Island Movers/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships at Kunuiakea Stadium on Saturday.

HPA (57 points) edged out defending champion Kaiser by two to claim their first girls title since 1995. Pat Lau, who has coached HPA for 30 years can breathe a sigh of relief.

"For us, they worked hard and we sat down we planned everything. Everyone put in their part. I told the kids, it's not the big points, it's the one point here and there. We won by two, each point everyone had to get it," said Lau.

Kamehameha won with 78.33 points while Punahou (71.67 points) came in second and Baldwin (66 points) came in third. There were two events where the Warriors did not have a participant in 400 and 800-meter.

"We won here two years ago. We had a super good team that lost a lot of guys last year, but there was still a lot left. It took the guys a while to get it and believe in what they can do. Both boys and girls teams came on at the end", said Kamehameha coach Steve Jenness, who has been with the program for 32 years as a distance coach, first year as head coach.

Everything has come full circle for Kaeo Kruse—literally. Kruse, who has a decorated track career, dominated the 1,500-meter with a time of four minutes, 1.53 seconds. In the 3,000-meter event, Avery Torres (Kalaheo) tailed him and eventually took the lead before Kruse pulled away for good to win with a time of nine minutes, 5.85 seconds on his home turf as a senior.

"It feels great. The main words I can think of are training and support. Me and my teammates have been putting in the work. All of teammates I ran with contributed for this moment right now. This is for my teammates, family, coaches and crowd to win on the home turf," said Kruse.

Anthony Kahoohanohano-Davis of Baldwin, who has participated in track since his freshman year, caps his senior year by setting tournaments records for the long jump (24 feet, 10 inches) and triple jump (49 feet, 10.75 inches). Despite setting these records as an individual, it wouldn't be possible without the love and support he received along the way.

"It feels really great, all the hard work paid off and we did in the perfect timing that it's in the state meet. I happy my coaches mentored me and took the time to build good character. In practice we compete and push each other and my family comes to my practices, I do it for them to make them proud," said Kahoohanohano-Davis.

Grey Ihu of University Lab School edged out Justin Desaki (KS-Kapalama) and Bailey Kaopuiki (Baldwin) to win the 100-meter dash in 11.55 seconds. He also claimed the 200m dash with a time of 22.88 seconds.

"It's a tough environment to race in. Bailey was a state champ last year and it was a big push for me and I'm happy to run next to him and he pushed me to the end," said Ihu.

HPA senior Emma Taylor defended her titles as she won the 100 and 300-meter hurdles.

"It feels good and it was fun. It is bittersweet, but I'm happy I ended well. Once I crossed the finish line, I was so happy and blessed I was able to pull this off for four years," said Taylor.

Phoebe Kirk of Sacred Hearts Academy won the 1500-meter and 800-meter runs. This was her opportunity to showcase her stuff against the bigger schools across the state.

"The finish was intense and with the wind, I just thought I'd go for it. I definitely enjoy this meet more than any other and people get to see what Sacred Hearts is about," said Kirk.

Jessica Lee (Iolani) may not be the biggest participant on the field, but she cleared 10 feet, nine inches to win the girls pole vault.

HHSAA Track and Field State Championships

» Final results
» Team scores

"Tommi and I were tied and we had a jump off at the end and they moved it to 11'3" but we couldn't get it so they moved it to 10'9". I wanted to have a good time for my last season," said Lee.

Willie Ewaliko from Castle won the boys' pole vault at 14 feet, three inches.

Wesley Faagau and Alema Kapoi won the boys' discus throw and shot put respectively for Kamehameha. Maia Graham of Iolani won the girls' discus throw and Bradina Anae (Kahuku) won the shot put.

Jordan Jones out of St. Andrew's Priory won the 3000-meter run in 10 minutes, 57.25 seconds.

Farrington won the Mixed 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays, an event where they pair special education students with students from the track team.

Kaiser's Hannah Hollenbeer, Juliette Lum, Tommi Hintan, Kristen O'handley won the girls' 4x400 relay in , while Solomon Liggins, Jon Faulkner, Matteo Dumas and Thomas Reid III of Radford won the boys' 4x400 in three minutes, 27.49 seconds to wrap up the night.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




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