BIIF Best Headed to Oahu for HHSAA Track & Field Championships

Kamehameha's Kana Silva, left, leads the BIIF in sprints, while Honakaa's Chayce Moniz leads in mid-distance

If things go as planned Big Island track & field athletes will need to carry extra luggage when then return from the state championships on Oahu this weekend as they will be carrying a lot of extra hardware with them.

  The Hawaii High School Athletic Association state track & field championships will be held May 14-15 at Kamehameha’s Oahu campus and the Big Island Interscholastic Federation will be looking to bring home medals in a variety of track and field events.

   Leading the way for the BIIF are state defending champions Kau’s Jacob Edwards and Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Ku’uipo Nakoa.

   Edwards who has been billed as the “King of the Hurdles” has dominated both the 110 and 300 meter events and holds the best times in the state this season.  To go along with his picture perfect hurdling Edwards also has the best distance in the state in the triple jump and could win gold in all three events.

Jacob Edwards

“I think Jacob (Edwards) could also medal in the long jump,” Kau coach Bob Martin said.  “I’d also look at Kaenen (Akau) and Manta (Dirks) from Kamehameha to medal in the long.”

  Nakoa, who single handily scored 58 points in helping HPA win the girls BIIF team title, also ranks as one of the top hurlers in the state.  The senior Ka Makani is expected to fight for top honors in the 100 and 300 hurdles, but will face stiff opposition in the high hurdles from Kahuku’s Zhane Santiago.

   Santiago leads the state in the triple jump while Nakoa leads the state in the long jump going 18 feet earlier this season.  Nakoa also has a good chance of medaling in both the 100 and 200 meter dash.

   Konawaena freshman, Ua Ruedy, has already made a name for herself in the 300 hurdles and on Oahu the youngster will focus entirely on that event as a gold or silver medal is within her reach.

  The fastest sprinter in the state this year is Punahou’s Ashley Satterwhite who has dominated the 100, 200 and 400 meter events.  But Satterwhite has decided to forego the 400 dash to concentrate on the 100 and 200 leaving the door open to HPA’s Zoe Sims to compete for gold in the 400.

   Sims is the only BIIF girl to break the 60 second barrier in the 400 this season and if she goes under 59 seconds will have an excellent chance at taking top honors.  Teammate Mindy Campbell is the defending state champion in the high jump and should also pick up a medal in that event.

Shina Chung

Hilo’s Shina Chung is ranked in a tie for second in the state in the pole vault, clearing a height of 10 feet 7 inches.  Chung, just a sophomore, is the two time defending BIIF champion in the vault and has a good chance of breaking the 11 foot barrier which would put her in contention for the gold medal.

   BIIF girl’s team champions, Kamehameha, could also see Kaopua Sutton at discus and Victoria  Evans-Bautista in the long jump claim medals in those events.

   The Punahou girls are the clear favorites to win the team championship as they have the depth and the “big point earner” in Ashley Satterwhite.

  “At states our athletes get to pick their favorite events,” HPA coach Pat Lau said.  “Ku’uipo most likely will stick with both hurdles and jumps.  Our relay teams are all underclassmen and the experience of running in states will be great for them.”

   Lau believes that HPA has a shot of coming in the top five as a team.  “The girl’s team title will be a fight between Punahou, Radford and Kahuku,” he said.

   While Edwards is the best hope for the BIIF boys to bring home gold a host of other talented Big Island athletes will be fighting to gain one of the top six medals presented in each event.

   Kamehameha coach Kimo Weaver sees his team’s depth as bringing them a long way this season.  “At the state level we should be competitive in the relays, hurdles, sprints, jumps, throws and in the pole vault,” Weaver said.

   Kana Silva, Keanen Akau, Manta Dirks, Keli’I Kekuewa, Francis Blas, Maka McKee, and Isaac DeRego are the Warrior boy’s hopefuls to medal at the state, according to Weaver.

   “There are other kids that could step it up and hopefully medal for us,” Weaver said.  “At the state level anything can happen and we are hoping it goes our way.”

   Also watch for Waiakea’s Ka’imi Scott in the 200 and 400 meter dashes as the two time BIIF defending champion in those events has the quickness and ability to get out of the blocks fast and maintain a lead.

   Kohala high jumpers Ethan Meikle and Kelson Kawai both cleared 6’ 4” during the BIIF championships which rank them in the top five in the state.  Kamehameha’s Shane Brostek ranks third in the state for the shot put and Keaau’s Daniel Brooks third in the 800 meter run.

   A big question mark is whether or not Honokaa’s distance runner Chris Mosch will be fully recovered to run in the grueling 3K.  Mosch hurt himself prior to last week’s BIIF championships and wasn’t able to compete.  Should he be at full strength he would be the BIIF best hope to medal in that event.

   Unlike the girl’s team title, the boy’s title appears up for grabs with several schools vying for top honors.  “Kamehameha-Kapalama has the inside track to win the team title for the boys,” Weaver said.  “Waimea of Kauai and Punahou look to be contenders as well.”

   As for the BIIF boys team champions: “It’s our goal to finish in the top 10 at state,” Weaver said.  “If things go our way it is possible, but you never know as anything can happen at a state meet.”

Advertisement