Baldwin and King K the best boys track teams in the State of Hawaii

KEAAU, HAWAII – In the spirit of making Maui proud the Baldwin Bears and King Kekaulike dominated the Hawaii High School Athletic Association track and field championships by finishing first and second respectively for the boys team title.

“This is our first track state championship,” Bears Coach Ardis Anguay said. 

The Bears scored points throughout most of the events on the oval with a well balanced team approach.

Who would have thought that throwing three fouls during the finals of the HHSAA discus field championships, would still award Baldwin’s Paoni Tasini a state individual championship.

Tasini’s monster throw of 171-04 on Friday carried over into the finals and it was good enough for the Bear to be crowned discus champion.

Maui Interscholastic League athletes showed their mettle during the two day state championship held Friday and Saturday on the Big Island.

 

On Friday, MIL boys were vaulting in the finals of the pole vault and ended up dominating the top three spots with Michael Teves of King Kekaulike being crowned the state champion, clearing 14 feet.

The MIL advanced 23 boys and 14 girls into Saturday’s finals and produced multiple state champions.

The heavy team favorites coming into the finals were the Bears and Coach Anguay was optimistic.

“We have a target on our backs,” Anguay said prior to the finals.  “Our boys worked hard this season and if they do exactly what they are supposed to do we’ll be successful.”

Anguay, in her first year as head coach, was complimentary of her coaches and track parents.

“I have good coaches and I follow Gary Sanches who was our coach for the last 17 years,” Anguay said.  “At this point we are most concerned with Punahou.”

With the rain appearing over the two day championships, Anguay felt that wouldn’t interfere with her team’s performance.

“The rain is typical of Hilo and shouldn’t matter in our boy’s performance,” Anguay said.

During the 110 hurdles Baldwin’s Vetekina Malafu added to the Bears total, finishing second and scoring 8 points.

“Every point counts,” Malafu said.  “Our coach told us to go all out to win the team title.”

Malafu, a senior, had his best state finish and was optimistic about his team’s chances of bring home the gold.

“We know Punahou has a good team with a lot of depth” he said.  “But we’re going to try our best.”

The big surprise came in the boys 4×100 meter relay as the Bears went against the top seeded team in Keaau.

Keaau took the early lead, but the gritty Bears kept a stride behind making the most of each baton handoff to pull out the hotly contested victory.

Leading off was Ryne Yokouchi, second leg Vetekkina Malafu, third leg Aaron Mamarzan and anchored by Keelan Ewalike.

“This was really big for us,” Ewalike said.  “We are making Maui proud.”

The Bears won in 41.10 seconds with Keaau having a baton miscue on their second leg to finish in 43.95.

“We didn’t want to be cocky,” Ewaliko said.  “We had the confidence to win the relay as we worked hard during practice and it paid off.”

Baldwin’s diversity extended to all facets of the competition with Miki Fangatua launching a discus into the evening sky to win the event.

“I had a good feeling coming into the championships,” Fangatua said. 

Fangatua scored a total of 18 points for the Bears with his second place shot put toss.

“My technique is off and I need to work on my spin,” he said.  “We should have a good night and hopefully everybody pulls together and makes it happen.”

Ewaliko was back on the track in the 200 meter dash and added another gold medal and 10 additional points in the Bears quest for the team title.

Baldwin’s heavy firepower with their boys had them pull away in the final events of the evening to bring them a state title with King Kekaulike taking second.

Seabury’s Dakota Grossman was the queen of distance running, winning both the 1500 and 3000 meter races and in the process unseeded the defending 1500 state champ, Hawaii Preps Zoe Sims.

“I liked were I was in the 1500 and with the girls I was running with I managed to run my personal best,” Grossman said.  “I ran a 4:43 and pulled the race out in the final 50 meters.”

In the 3K Grossman was equally impressive and outdistanced the field to dominate as the sophomore showed things to come.

Maui High Nicola Perez-Garreaud the defending champ in the 1500 and 3K decided to focus on the 3K only this year.

“I knew if I only ran the 3K I would have a better chance of winning because of the depth and quality of the runners in the 15,” he said.

“I was super nervous before the race and felt weird,” he said.  “I calmed down during the race with each lap and I was going for the win and didn’t care about my time because I was just giving it my all.”

Following the announcement of the top boys team Anguay was proud of her team’s effort.

“These kids deserve it as it was a team effort for sure,” she said.  “As the head coach I just delegate to my coaches and they are the ones that make it happen.”

The only weak spot that Anguay could point to was the boy’s high jump.

“The high jump is one area that we had no one entered in,” she said.  “All in all we had a great effort and I’m very proud of them.”

For King Kekaulike it was a surprise runner up position for the boy’s team title.

“This is our highest finish at a state track meet,” Coach James Alger said.  “We never expected this and it exceeds our expectations.”

Alger and his team were headed to the exits prior to the announcement of the top boy’s teams and were asked to return before the awards were announced.

“The kids worked hard and we beat Punahou by one point,” Coach Alger said.  “For us this is a real surprise.”

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BIIF’s Finest procduces state champions in Track & Field

Brostek

KEAAU – Five defending state champions from the Big Island Interscholastic Federation had their titles on the line as the Hawaii High School Athletic Association held the track and field championships over a two day period on Friday and Saturday.

Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Shane Brostek (shot and discus) and Zoe Sims (1500), along with Konawaena’s Ua Ruedy, Kealakehe’s Luca Walter and Kamehameha’s Kaenen Akau (long jump) all passed the qualifiers on Friday to make it into the finals on Saturday.

BIIF athletes advanced 21 boys and 19 girls into the finals with individual and team championships on the line.

The defending BIIF boy’s team champions and Coach Vicky Chai-Guerpo were looking to place within the top 5 teams during Saturday’s finals.

“The competition at this level is very stiff and I hope our kids are ready to compete,” Chai-Guerpo said.  “Baldwin is probably the team to beat and I’m impressed with them.”

The Bears from Maui came in as the heavy team favorites as their qualifiers were spread deep into the finals.

Chai-Guerpo’s time was split between hosting the state meet and coaching the Cougars.

“I had lots of help from parents, my athletic director, and many other people which made hosting easy for me,” she said.

Brostek had an off two days in the discus throw and finished the championship in 4^th place, to be the first defending champ to be unseeded from his crown.

In the shot Brostek came back with a vengeance repeating as the state champion with his toss of 55-7.25.

“I messed up in the discus with bad technique,” Brostek said.  “I’m a little disappointed tonight, even with my shot because I did better during the regular season.”

Brostek is headed to the University of Washington on a football scholarship, but is also thinking of joining the track team.

“I might try to walk on in track, but those guys are pretty awesome,” he said.

Walter

Kealakehe’s Luca Walter did what he’s been dreaming of in the finals.

“I finally got my time under 50 seconds,” Walter said of his 400 meter victory.  “Breaking 50 seconds means more to me than winning the state title.”

Walter, a confident senior for the Waveriders, took the race out in lane 5 and ran his own race.

“I actually like lane 3 better because I can see my competition around me,” Walter said.  “I’m a firm believer in God so I asked him to help me.”

During the preliminary trails on Friday a Kealakehe coach timed Walter on his 4×400 anchor leg at 48.99 seconds.

Akau had no trouble defending his long jump title with his leap of 21-11.

“It’s great to repeat as state champ,” Akau said.  “I managed to work out the tension in practice and allowed my technique to carry over into the jump.”

Akau, who most of the season found himself fouling in his first two attempts was composed during the state championships and on Friday unleashed a 22-1 leap to regain his title.

“It was during my last jump on Friday that I hit the 22 mark,” Akau said. 

During the 100 dash Akau claimed third place and was satisfied with that mark.

“Third in the 100 at states, I can’t go wrong with that,” Akau said.  “My mantra coming into states was ‘run fast, jump further’.

The defending 300 hurdle champion, Kona’s Ua Ruedy dove in desperation 18 inches from the finish line to take second place.

Ruedy a real competitor gave 100 percent in her attempt to retain her hurdle crown, falling just short.

Wildcat teammate Lia Galderia won her first track state title leaping 18-01 in the long jump to outdistance the rest of the field.

“I can’t wait to play basketball,” Galderia said after winning the long.  “It was good fun with great coaches, but it’s onto basketball now.”

HPA’s Sims fell in her attempt to repeat in the 1500 when a talented Seabury Hall’s Dakota Grossman, a sophomore, ran her personal best and gave credit to the two Big Island girls for pushing her during the race.

Hilo’s Carmen Garson-Shumway tried to stay in the pack of Sims and Grossman, but as the event came to its final lap Grossman pulled away for the victory.

Two new state champions were crowned in Keaau’s Cliff Eriksson, wining the high jump going 6-2 and Alexander Engdahl taking the 300 hurdles.

Eriksson was the only competitor to clear 6-2 and he asked that the bar be raised to 6-4.

“I just wanted to see what I could do today,” he said.  “I am happy that I won the state title, but am also disappointed that I couldn’t clear 6-4.”

For Eriksson it proved to be a mental game as the senior put it all together.

“I thought I could and I wanted it,” Eriksson said of the hurdle victory.

Eriksson did have his share of disappointment as his relay team failed to pull out the victory in the 4×100.

“It was a little disappointing,” Eriksson said.  “We were all hoping we could win the relay and it just didn’t happen.”

The Keaau boys were the BIIF team champions and were looking for a top five finish at the state meet.

“I’m very proud of my team,” Coach Chai-Guerpo said.  “This was our greatest season in the history of Keaau.”

The Cougars boys finished fourth overall and was the first BIIF team.

HHSAA state girls cross country championships, photos and results

Girls Team Results

1. Hawaii Prep; 2. Punahou 50; 3. Kamehameha-Oahu 120; 4. Iolani 153; 5. Seabury 155; 6. Leilehua 161; 7. Hilo 206; 8. Radford 212; 9. Kauai 229; 10. Baldwin 281; 11. Waipahu 287; 12. Kamehameha-Hawaii 299; 13. Kaiser 320; 14. Kapolei 351; 15. Pearl City 363; 16. Kamehameha-Maui 401

Girls individual   1. Dakota Grossman Seabury 19:27.5   2. Elli Brady Punahou 19:47.3

3. Kyleigh Mann Punahou 19:54.1   4. Breanne Ball Iolani 20:06.7

5. Kristiana Van Pernis Hawaii Prep 20:22.0   6. Mariah Haight Hawaii Prep 20:27.5

7. Zoe Sims Hawaii Prep 20:33.0   8. Emily Evans Hawaii Prep 20:35.8

9. Kelly Ulrich Hawaii Prep 20:38.1   10. Hallie Lam Punahou 20:40.6

11. Kelsie Kobayashi Waiakea 20:44.5   12. Carly Neal Kamehameha-Oahu 20:46.6

13. Justine Malek Seabury 20:46.6   14. Joy Claypoole Island School 20:48.0

15. Kari Van Mols Kealakehe 20:48.7   16. Kiana Smith Seabury 20:49.8

17. Tandeka Nunn Radford 20:49.8   18. Kelsi Teramae Island Pacific 20:53.0

19. Melissa Wong Punahou 20:53.5   20. Brooklin Jensen Leilehua 21:04.9

21. Katelyn Lacamera Leilehua 21:06.6   22. Tessa Baker Radford 21:15.1

girls top 20

23. Kai Hoshijo Kamehameha-Oahu 21:16.9   24. Noe Lum Punahou 21:19.0

25. Jamie Durso Punahou 21:27.8   26. Carmen Garson-Shum Hilo 21:45.3

27. Lindsey Mau St. Francis 21:45.3   28. Ellie Bio Baldwin 21: 45.4

29. Liana Dollar Kamehameha-Oahu 21:54.8   30. Satya Ray Hilo 21:55.3

31. Krista Schnackenbe Kauai 21:58.3   32. Risa Lam University High 22:00.5

33. Heidi Herr Kauai 22:09.5   34. Deylynn White Kapolei 22:12.8

35. Sydney Kirkhill Kealakehe 22:12.9   36. Alexis Damo Sacred Hearts 22:14.4

37. Cassie Wilson Kapaa 22:16.0   38. Joy Choe Makua Lani 22:17.5

39. Kaycee San-Agustin Waimea 22:19.5   40. Celina Eklund Leilehua 22:24.1

41. Cassidy Cox Mid Pacific 22:24.1   42. Domenique Banta Moanalua 22:24.4

43. Jennifer Borziller Island Pacific 22:24.8   44. Keri Fujiwara Waipahu 22:26.5

45. Grace Choe Makua Lani 22:27.2   46. Kaile Eli Pearl City 22:29.9

47. Deann Nishimura-Thornton Keaau 22:31.3  48. Brianna Summer Kamehameha-Oahu 22:32.7

49. Ishly-Ann Agbayani Waipahu 22:33.2   50. Kimiko Matsuda-Law University High 22:38.8

51. Janelle Stone Kamehameha-Oahu 22:39.1   52. Paige Omura Iolani 22:41.5

53. Veronica Ladwig Hawaii Prep 22:42.8   54. Chaynna Guinto Iolani 22:46.6

55. Krislyn Kuraya Iolani 22:47.3   56. Marissa Miyagi Iolani 22:48.0

57. Tamako Delfino Roosevelt 22:49.4   58. Erin Carvalho Kamehameha-Hawaii 22:51.1

59. McKenzie Arita Kaiser 22:52.7   60. Kailee Murray-Pass Kaiser 22:53.5

Other Big Island finishers

61. Shayli Nakamoto Konawaena 22:53.5   63. Shalila De Bourmon Hilo 22:55.0

66. Mika Bettencourt Kealakehe 23:03.2   67. Corin Kim Kamehameha-Hawaii 23:05.4

69. Cat Bradley Hawaii Prep 23:06.2   80. Jordyn Breitbarth Hilo 23:24.4

81. Kaylee Rapoza Hilo 23:24.7   82. Keili Dorn Makua Lani 23:26.0

84. Hildhang Adona Honokaa 23:31.4   85. Elizabeth Aguirre Honokaa 23:33.5

92. Kelly Greenwell Honokaa 23:42.4   94. Mikela Cabel Kamehameha-Hawaii 23:44.0

95. Tiffany Nakamura Makua Lani 23:44.1   100. Natalie Hagemann Keaau 23:51.1

101. Katie Aguilar Honokaa 23:51.5   104. Jillian Hughes Waiakea 23:55.8

109. Tiana Iwata Kamehameha-Hawaii 24:09.6   114. Skye Ombac Waiakea 24:22.3

118. Nina Bean Hilo 24:33.3   133. Tehani Jones Kamehameha-Hawaii 24:54.5

134. Jessica Busek Waiakea 24:55.8   155. Karina Lawrence Hilo 27:02.1

HHSAA girls cross country top 35 results from Kapalua Golf Course, Maui

 

Girls State					Championship
Place	TmPl		No.		Name Yr		School		Ftime
1	1		F147		Dakota Grossman 10		Seabury		19:27.5
2	2		F122		Elli Brady 11		Punahou		19:47.3
3	3		F121		Kyleigh Mann 12		Punahou		19:54.1
4	4		F32		Breanne Ball 12		Iolani		20:06.7
5	5		F20		Kristiana Van Pern 10		Hawaii Preparatory		20:22.0
6	6		F17		Mariah Haight 10		Hawaii Preparatory		20:27.5
7	7		F16		Zoe Sims 11		Hawaii Preparatory		20:33.0
8	8		F15		Emily Evans 11		Hawaii Preparatory		20:35.8
9	9		F19		Kelly Ulrich 10		Hawaii Preparatory		20:38.1
10	10		F125		Hallie Lam 10		Punahou		20:40.6
11		F151		Kelsie Kobayashi 12		Waiakea		20:44.5
12	11		F60		Carly Neal 12		Kamehameha-Kapalama		20:46.6
13	12		F142		Justine Malek 12		Seabury		20:46.6
14		F41		Joy Claypoole 11		Island School		20:48.0
15		F83		Kari Van Mols 11		Kealakehe		20:48.7
16	13		F148		Kiana Smith 9		Seabury		20:49.8
17	14		F130		Tandeka Nunn 11		Radford		20:49.8
18		F39		Kelsi Teramae 11		Island Pacific		20:53.0
19	15		F124		Melissa Wong 11		Punahou		20:53.5
20	16		F97		Brooklin Jensen 10		Leilehua		21:04.9
21	17		F94		Katelyn Lacamera 11		Leilehua		21:06.6
22	18		F133		Tessa Baker 9		Radford		21:15.1
23	19		F64		Kai Hoshijo 9		Kamehameha-Kapalama		21:16.9
24	20		F126		Noe Lum 10		Punahou		21:19.0
25	21		F123		Jamie Durso 11		Punahou		21:27.8
26	22		F25		Carmen Garson-Shum 10		Hilo		21:45.3
27		F139		Lindsey Mau 12		St. Francis		21:45.3
28	23		F4		Ellie Bio 11		Baldwin		21:45.4
29	24		F58		Liana Dollar 12		Kamehameha-Kapalama		21:54.8
30	25		F27		Satya Ray 9		Hilo		21:55.3
31	26		F80		Krista Schnackenbe 9		Kauai		21:58.3
32		F150		Risa Lam 11		University High		22:00.5
33	27		F79		Heidi Herr 10		Kauai		22:09.5
34	28		F73		Deylynn White 12		Kapolei		22:12.8
35		F85		Sydney Kirkhill 9		Kealakehe		22:12.9

 

Seabury Hall places 3 runners in top 6 at 56th annual Punahou Invite

Kiana

Stephen Smith, father of Kiana, took a photo of the results from Punahou and emailed it to me.

Seabury looks to be a legit contender for the HHSAA championships as their top three runners were impressive.

Click the results to enlarge.

Gracie Peck

 

Elli Brady

 

Team Scoring:

Punahou 32
Seabury 48

Dakota Grossman