Bright pink shoes lead way around oval in BIIF track & field

WAIMEA – Bright pink racing shoes was easy to see from anywhere on the track but it was the altitude that played the biggest role for Waiakea distance runner Jackson Halford as he ran the 3000 at the Stan Shutes track at Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Saturday.

Halford, participating in the final regular season meet in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation before running in the BIIF Qualifiers on Friday was content with his 3K performance.

“I’m okay with my time today (9:25)” Halford said.  “After all it is HPA and it’s hard to know where I’m really at because of the altitude.”

Halford, with his bright pink pair of racing flats, made it look easy as he weaved his way around the oval lapping slower runners in the process.

Halford a master at distance racing showed his strength in the 1500 finishing in 4:17 which brought a smile to his face.

“Anytime I can go under 4:19 I’m happy,” Halford said.  “The 1500 may be my best event and I will run it, along with the 800 and 3000 in BIIF’s”

On the other side of the ledger, teammate Kelsie Kobayashi did a repeat performance of her male counterpart by winning the 3K.

“My mind wasn’t into racing for most of the season,” Kobayashi said.  “Today I finally put it all together as my heart was in it and I wasn’t worried about who was in this race.”

Kobayashi ran the seven and a half lap race, distancing herself from the rest of the field with every lap.

“I was hitting my splits today and getting myself confidence back,” Kobayashi said. “This is my favorite race and I still believe I can improve on my time.”

Kobayashi’s time of 11 minutes 26 seconds was the best of her four years running varsity track at Waiakea.

“I paced myself properly and focused on my time, not my competition,” she said.  “I’ve never run this fast and believe I am peaking at the right time.”

The defending state champion in the girls 1500, HPA’s Zoe Sims had a real battle as she went against Hilo’s Carmen Garson-Shumway.

“Carmen and I are track friends and I respect her a lot for her running ability.” Sims said.

During the 1500 the two girls exchanged the lead several times and the race was never decided until the final meter with Sims leaning across the finish line first.

Sims was also on the track for the 800 in which she won in a time of 2:23.

“My 800 time was okay, the race felt good and it was fun to run,” Sims said.  “I like running the 800 and today I managed to hit my split times.”

For the boys it was Kealakehe’s Luca Walter tearing up the track in both the 800 and 400 races.

“I reached one of my goals today when I went under 2 minutes for the 800,” Walter said.    

Walter, who will be a walk on at Western Oregon, wanted to get his 800 time under 2 minutes.

“I needed to get it under 2 in order to have the college coaches take a better look at me when I walk on,” he said.  “Now I need to get my 400 time under 50 seconds.”

“Today I focused on the 800 and next week the focus will be in the 400,” Walter said.

Walter was also the anchor leg in the 4×400 relay and helped lead the Waveriders to victory in 3:32.

The heavy weight of field events, double state defending champion in the shot and discus throws, HPA’s Shane Brostek was having a sub Brostek performance.

“I was off today and wasn’t happy with my throws in both events,” Brostek said.  “I like winning, but for me it’s more about improving that makes the difference.”

Brostek threw the shot 56 feet, two weeks ago, which makes him the state leader, but Saturday’s throw didn’t make the humble giant very happy.

“I worked really hard during the week lifting and practicing, so I wasn’t very happy with what I did today,” Brostek said.

While Brostek was throwing far away from the track, on the infield was Keaau’s Cliff Eriksson, the BIIF leader in the boy’s high jump.

The heavy weight of field events, double state defending champion in the shot and discus throws, HPA’s Shane Brostek was having a sub Brostek performance.

“I was off today and wasn’t happy with my throws in both events,” Brostek said.  “I like winning, but for me it’s more about improving that makes the difference.”

Brostek threw the shot 56 feet, two weeks ago, which makes him the state leader, but Saturday’s throw didn’t make the humble giant very happy.

“I worked really hard during the week lifting and practicing, so I wasn’t very happy with what I did today,” Brostek said.

While Brostek was throwing far away from the track, on the infield was Keaau’s Cliff Eriksson, the BIIF leader in the boy’s high jump.

Eriksson entered the competition at 5-8 and leaped his way up and over the cross bar, clearing a personal best height of 6-02 before failing to clear at 6-03, but it was his earlier victory in the 110 hurdles that he was most pleased with.

“I’m really happy with my 110 performance,” he said.  “This is the first time that I’ve won the 110.”

Eriksson complained of sore legs during the week and his mini break seemed to have revived his body.

“It was a hard practice week for my, but today I felt really good,” he said.  “The high jump is my favorite and best event.”

Eriksson also finished second in the 300 hurdles and second in the 4×400 relay.

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Keaau’s Eriksson wins 110 hurdles at Hawaii Prep track meet

Boys 110 Meter Hurdles 

1 Cliff Eriksson            12 Keaau         15.96   1   10 

  2 Damien Packer             12 Keaau       16.14   1    8 

  3 Michael Morikawa          JR Waiakea     16.55   1    6 

  4 Rihei Grothmann           10 Kamehameha HI 16.91 1    4 

  5 Joey Kailimai             SO Hawaii Prep 17.28   1    2 

  6 Shawn Ventura             10 Keaau       17.60   1    1 

  7 Easten Tanimoto           12 Kamehameha  17.98   1

  8 Yasu Miyakawa             SR Hawaii Prep 17.99   1

  9 Oscar Kuo                 SR Hawaii Prep 18.30   2

 10 Carson Magoon             SR Hawaii Prep 19.03   2

 11 Benedict Purel            FR Kealakehe   20.22   2

 12 Maurice Smith              9 Keaau       21.01   2

 13 Taz Preston               JR Waiakea     21.06   2

 14 Sione Atuekaho             9 Hilo        21.44   2

 15 Brock Sherlock             9 Hilo        22.30   2

 16 Quinn Shiroma             SO Waiakea     22.62   2

Big Island Speed Clinic with Josh Abner & Rick Hagedorn

BIG Island Speed Clinic

Featuring:                 Contact:  Joshua Abner      Phone: 808-430-9930      joshua.abner@yahoo.com

                           First Ever Big Island Speed Clinic at Konawaena High School

 Develop Game Changing Speed with Nike Sponsored Speed Coach Rick Hagedorn of Speedburners.

       Konawaena, HI June 12 & 13, 2012:  Four time BIIF Coach of the Year, Joshua Abner will host Nike sponsored Speed Coach Rick Hagedorn, of Speedburners (www.speedburners.net) for Hawaii Islands first ever two day speed clinic.  The clinic will be held to help all Big Island athletes “Create Speed in the Athletic World”.  The Speedburners philosophy is based on teaching proper mechanics and training fast in order to develop speed. Big Island Speed Clinic will be open to all athletes, male and female, of all levels, who are interested in becoming faster through proper speed training.  The cost of the clinic will be $100 for both days.  Register by May 11^th and receive both days for only $90.  Participants will receive top tier training and Big Island Speed Clinic t-shirts.

          For more information on becoming part of Big Island Speed Clinic please contact Joshua Abner at: 808-430-9930 or joshua.abner@yahoo.com

5 & 10K run at Green Lake Crater Park – May 5

10k/5k run-walk fundraiser for HAAS Cross Country Team

 

May 5th, 2012. Green Lake Crater Park

 

Cost: $10.00 for adult/$5.00 for student/minor

 

An exciting, scenic run will start you at Green Lake Crater 

and take you to Kapoho’s WaaWaa Mango Grove Forest!!)

 

Registration Time: 7am – 7:45 am

Race Start Time: 8:00 am

 

(Can’t make the race? Make a 501(c)3 donation to: Arts and Science Center,

P0 Box 2091. Pahoa, HI. 96778)

 

Questions/Directions? Call Patrick at (808)640-8113

Big Island Auto Club Drag Racing results for April 21-22

The Big Island Auto Club held its third annual VW Bug-In as well as an April points race April 21-22 at Hilo Drag Strip a benefit for the Hawaii Island Food Basket. Next up is the Memorial Day Drag Races, May 26-27.

Pro gas

8.90 index: Winner, Gary Mizuno (Hilo) in a ‘55 Chevy Bel-Air (8.90 seconds/147 mph). Runner-up, David Francis (Paauilo) in a Camaro (8.96/155).

9.90: Winner, Davy Watanabe (Hilo) in a Chevelle (9.93/132). Runner-up, Jonathon Santiago (Keaau) in a Roadster (9.96/133).

10.90: Winner, Raycen Wong (Hilo) in an Olds Starfire (11.05/132; Wong wins on a hole shot). Runner-up, Chad Fiesta (Pepeekeo) in a Nova (10.98/132).

11.90: Winner, Dave Crowl (Keaau) in a Nova (12.03/113). Runner-up, Kaike DePonte (Keaau) in a Camaro (12.14/124).

12.90: Ian Bernard (Papaikou) in a Toyota (13.30/79; Bernard wins on a hole shot). Runner-up, Gary Prose (Hilo) in a Mazda Pickup (13.18/103).

Pro Gas motorcycle: Winner, John Malson (Hilo) on a Honda (9.72/140). Runner-up, Sheldon Asejo (Hilo) on a Suzuki (10.83/134). Sunday ET Bracket

Junior dragster: Winner, Kaimi Francis (Hilo) (9.75/63). Runner-up, Sydney Koga (Mt. View) (11.26/54).

Bracket I: Winner, Raycen Wong (Hilo) in an Olds Starfire (10.28/99). Runner-up, Jonathan Santiago (Keaau) in a Roadster (Santiago tripped the light too early).

Bracket II: Winner, Laurence Cacabellos (Papaaloa) in a Vega (11.74/110). Runner-up, Keenan Francis (Honokaa) in a Nova (12.18/112).

Bracket motorcycle: Winner, Sheldon Asejo (Hilo) on a Suzuki (9.86/139). Runner-up, John Melson (Hilo) on a Honda (red-lighted, 9.86/133).

Sports compact bracket: Winner, Kimo Kamanu (Hilo) in a Honda (12.48/100). Runner-up, Kevin Adlic (Pahoa) in a Honda (13.59/118).

“Bug” bracket: Winner, Danny Namihira (Keeau) in a VW bug (10.55/111). Runner-up, Terry Enos (Hilo) in a VW digger (12.07/107).

Fastest car on the track: “Pyro” Pete Comandini (Waikoloa) in a jet-powered car (7.00/231).