Keaau and Kona win first BIIF Titles in Track & Field
KEAAU – The Wildcats and Cougars were running wild on Saturday as their track and field teams swept the girls and boys titles at the Big Island Interscholastic Federation championships.
For the Konawaena girls and the Keaau boys this was their first league championships in school history and a big reason to celebrate.
Keaau Coach Vicky Chai-Guerpo was at a loss for words in what was an emotional journey over several years.
“This was a team effort,” the tearful Cougar coach said. “I’m so proud of them and they did it for themselves, their parents and for their school.”
The Cougars relied on the experience of a sprint core made up of Jesse Huihui, Damien Packer, and Alexander Engdahl with teammate Cliff Ericksson handling the jumps and hurdles.
Packer and Eriksson got the Cougars started going one, two respectively in the 110 hurdles to give the Cougars 18 team points and from that point forward Keaau never relinquished the team lead.
“It feels very exciting and I’m just glad to have had the opportunity,” Packer said of his 110 victory. “I think I can do better at states if I remain determined and focused.”
Sprinting also translated into victory in the 4×100 with Keaau showcasing their multitalented corps, not only winning the BIIF relay title by posting the best time in the state with a 43.10 time.
Egdahl, Packer, along with Raskassa Johnson and Jessie Huihui were instrumental in the picture perfect sprint relay for the Cougars.
Balance in Keaau’s firepower could be found everywhere with Cougars Engdahl and Eriksson going 1 and 3 respectively in the 300 hurdles for 16 points.
“It feels awesome to win,” Engdahl said. “This year I think I can do good at states and I will try my best.”
“This was our first BIIF title, in any sport, in school history,” Keaau Athletic Director Iris McGuire said. “We entered the BIIF during the 1998-’99 season, so this title means a lot to our school.”
Chai-Guerpo has been the track and field coach at Keaau since 2000.
“Everyone in this school will know that it is possible,” Chai-Guerpo said. “I’ve been coaching for a while and this has been a long time in coming.”
While the Cougar boys were racking up an enormous lead in the team standing, eventually winning by more than 40 points over a talented Kealakehe squad, the Wildcats girls were in a seesaw battle for their team title.
Kona using their two big guns in Ua Ruedy and Lia Galdeira were heavily relied upon to score the big points, but it was the few unexpected points that helped put them over the top in a close battle.
Wildcat Coach Kuulei Karratti-Saole had predicted the team’s victory the day before saying, “We should win by 10 to 15 points.”
The Kona coach knew her team well and relied upon Galdeira to score 50 points and Ruedy to add another 34 to keep a talented Hawaii Preparatory Academy team at bay during most of the day.
At one point, with just three events to go, HPA trailed the Wildcats by 14 points with the 3K, 200 dash and 4×400 relay left.
Four pivotal points were scored by Kona’s little known freshman, Shayli Nakamoto in the 3000 run with her fourth place finish.
“I just wanted to keep my team in first place,” Nakamoto said. “I feel really important.”
Nakamoto’s contribution managed to keep the Wildcat lead and it was a surprise victory in the 200 that sealed the team win for Kona.
The 200 dash saw Galdeira get disqualified in a false start the day before and it became a surprise victory for teammate Ruedy that sealed the deal.
“I never thought I could win the 200,” Ruedy said. “It is a big win for me and our team.”
“I think this is the first time Kona has won a BIIF team track title,” Karratti-Saole said.
Karratti-Saole is in her fourth year at the helm of the Wildcat track program. She is also a former state champion in track winning the gold medal in the 100 back in 2003.
Kona edged out HPA for the girls team title by 11 points.
The upset of the day may have come in the girls 1500 run with Hilo’s Carmen Garson-Shumway taking on defending state champion, HPA’s Zoe Sims.
HPA, known for their talented distance runners, took a pack of four runners immediately to the lead.
“I didn’t want to get boxed in so I moved out with 300 to go,” Garson-Shumway said.
It became an all out sprint to the finish with Sims and teammate Kristiana Van Pernis staying on the heels of Garson-Shumway.
All three girls crossed the finish line under the meet record, with Garson-Shumway winning in 4:53.36, Sims 4:54.63, and Van Pernis 4:55.23.
“I didn’t expect to win,” Garson-Shumway said. “We are all friends and this is not about winning, it’s about the experience.”
Garson-Shumway was quick to give credit to her teammate, freshman Mehana Sabado-Halpern for helping to push her during practice.
“Mehana helps to push me and she is a real nice running partner,” Garson-Shumway said.
Sims later returned to the oval to redeem the situation in the 800 winning in a meet record time of 2:18.46 to edge out Garson-Shumway, 2:20.02.
The girl’s pole vault title went to HPA senior Sydney Budde at 8-6 with Kealakehe sophomore Kristi Lovell finish second.
The senior, who has vaulted all four years, was excited about her first BIIF title.
“That’s insane that I made it this far,” Budde said. “I’ve been second in my previous three years.”
Keaau will play host to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association track and field championships on Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12.
BIIF Track & Field Eastside Results – Top 6
BIIF Eastside Season Opener
Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Campus – 3/27/2010 Kea’au, HI Results
Girls 100 Meter Dash
1 Bronte Kaneakua SR Kamehameha HI 13.3h 3 10
2 Teisha Nacis SO Waiakea 13.4h 3 8
3 Kailyn Chock SR Waiakea 13.6h 3 6
4 Rose Nakamura FR Hilo 13.8h 2 4
5 Aloha Bohol JR Hilo 14.0h 3 2
6 Abigail Houston FR Keaau 14.3h 3 1
Girls 200 Meter Dash
1 Bronte Kaneakua SR Kamehameha HI 27.8h 2 10
2 Shina Chung SO Hilo 28.4h 2 8
3 Aloha Bohol JR Hilo 28.4h 1 6
4 Rose Nakamura FR Hilo 29.8h 2 4
5 Marley Strand-Nicolaisen FR Ka’u 30.0h 2 2
6 Lillie Davis FR Keaau 30.8h 1 1
Girls 400 Meter Dash
1 Randi Estrada SO Keaau 1:03.7h 2 10
2 Teisha Nacis SO Waiakea 1:06.9h 2 8
3 Karley Swain SO Waiakea 1:13.5h 1 6
4 Kiana Heaukulani FR Hilo 1:15.7h 2 4
5 Vandey Okinaka FR Waiakea 1:16.1h 1 2
6 Angeline Hoke SR Waiakea 1:16.7h 2 1
Girls 800 Meter Run
1 Kailyn Chock SR Waiakea 2:36.2h 10
2 Deann Nishimura-Thornton SO Keaau 2:37.1h 8
3 Claire Uetake SR Hilo 2:39.3h 6
4 Corin Kim SO Kamehameha HI 2:52.2h 4
5 Jessica Busek FR Waiakea 2:53.5h 2
6 Karina Lawrence SO Hilo 2:54.2h 1
Girls 1500 Meter Run
1 Traci Palaermo JR Hilo 5:29.2h 10
2 Deann Nishimura-Thornton SO Keaau 5:31.8h 8
—-> 3 Kelsie Kobayashi SO Waiakea 5:32.0h 6
4 Karina Lawrence SO Hilo 5:58.0h 4
5 Erin Carvalho SO Kamehameha HI 6:01.9h 2
6 Hannah Hendershot FR Waiakea 6:23.5h 1
Girls 3000 meter run
1 Shalila DE Bourmont SO Hilo 11:58.6h 10
2 Kelsie Kobayashi SO Waiakea 12:24.1h 8
3 Natalie Hagemann FR Keaau 13:18.2h 6
4 Erin Carvalho SO Kamehameha HI 13:40.6h 4
Girls 100 Meter Hurdles
1 Marley Strand-Nicolaisen FR Ka’u 18.0h 2 10
2 Alyssa Lehua McGuire FR Kamehameha HI 18.0h 2 8
3 Abyssinia Hammouri-Davis FR Keaau 18.4h 2 6
4 Alisha Gangwes SR Ka’u 18.8h 1 4
5 Raycee Cooke SO Hilo 18.9h 1 2
6 Alyssa Hoshida JR Hilo 19.1h 2 1
Girls 300 Meter Hurdles
1 Azmera Hammouri-Davis SO Keaau 52.8h 2 10
2 Bronte Kaneakua SR Kamehameha HI 52.9h 2 8
3 Kristina Padrigo FR Ka’u 53.1h 1 6
4 Alyssa Hoshida JR Hilo 54.0h 2 4
5 Alyssa Lehua McGuire FR Kamehameha HI 55.6h 2 2
6 Bree Delacruz SO Hilo 55.7h 1 1
Girls 4×100 Meter Relay
1 Keaau High School 54.8h 10
2 Kamehameha Schools Hawaii 54.8h 8
3 Hilo 55.5h 6
4 Waiakea 1:01.5h 4
— Ka’u High School DQ zone violation 3rd e
Girls 4×400 Meter Relay
1 Hilo 4:32.4h 10
2 Keaau High School 4:35.7h 8
3 Waiakea 4:47.4h 6
4 Kamehameha Schools Hawaii 4:50.7h 4
Girls High Jump
1 Erika Cushnie SR Waiakea 5-00.00 10
2 Randi Estrada SO Keaau 4-06.00 8
3 Marley Strand-Nicolaisen FR Ka’u J4-06.00 6
4 Holly Lambert SR Waiakea J4-06.00 4
5 Jessica Busek FR Waiakea 4-02.00 2
Girls Pole Vault
1 Shina Chung SO Hilo 8-06.00 10
2 Kaylee Rapoza FR Hilo 7-00.00 8
3 Kimberly Renee Hodson JR Kamehameha HI J7-00.00 6
4 Alyssa Lehua McGuire FR Kamehameha HI 6-06.00 4
5 Rose Nakamura FR Hilo 6-00.00 2
Girls Long Jump
1 Natasha Ah Chong SR Kamehameha HI 14-11.00 10
2 Jessica Busek FR Waiakea 13-04.25 8
3 Kaila Olson FR Ka’u 13-03.25 6
4 Vandey Okinaka FR Waiakea 12-06.75 4
5 Olivia Azevedo SO Kamehameha HI 12-00.75 2
6 Shani Cosma FR Keaau 11-06.50 1
Girls Triple Jump
1 Marley Strand-Nicolaisen FR Ka’u 32-00.75 10
2 Azmera Hammouri-Davis SO Keaau 30-08.00 8
3 Shani Cosma FR Keaau 26-01.75 6
Girls Shot Put
1 Linda Sunia JR Hilo 35-03.50 10
2 Kaopua Sutton SR Kamehameha HI 31-05.50 8
3 Jacquelyn Kaio-Goo SR Keaau 28-00.00 6
4 Alyssa Areola SO Keaau 26-01.25 4
5 Angeline Hoke SR Waiakea 26-00.00 2
6 Ariel Brown FR Pahoa 24-09.75 1
Girls Discus Throw
1 Kaopua Sutton SR Kamehameha HI 98-00.50 10
2 Janna Urakami JR Waiakea 88-06.50 8
3 Jacquelyn Kaio-Goo SR Keaau 84-06 6
4 Linda Sunia JR Hilo 79-08.50 4
5 Jasmine Iuta FR Kamehameha HI 70-04 2
6 Ariel Brown FR Pahoa 65-10 1
Boys 100 Meter Dash
1 Kaenen Akau SO Kamehameha HI 11.1h 5 10
2 Jesse Huihui SO Keaau 11.2h 5 8
3 Kaimi Scott SR Waiakea 11.4h 5 6
4 Talon Ota FR Keaau 11.5h 1 4
5 Michael Morikawa FR Waiakea 11.5h 2 2
6 Kason Marques JR Keaau 11.6h 2 1
Boys 200 Meter Dash
1 Kaimi Scott SR Waiakea 23.3h 5 10
2 Jesse Huihui SO Keaau 23.8h 2 8
3 Francis Blas III SR Kamehameha HI 24.0h 1 6
4 Kristian Martinez SO Hilo 24.4h 5 4
5 Collins Mattos SR Hilo 24.5h 5 2
6 Luke Leasure SR Waiakea 24.7h 5 1
Boys 400 Meter Dash
1 Kaimi Scott SR Waiakea 52.4h 2 10
2 Richard Moylan SR Christian Libert 53.4h 2 8
3 Jordan Decoito SR Hilo 55.3h 2 6
4 Travis Winters SO Waiakea 55.4h 2 4
5 Jacob St George SR Waiakea 56.4h 2 2
6 Talon Ota FR Keaau 56.5h 2 1
Boys 800 Meter Run
1 Daniel Brooks SR Keaau 2:06.3h 10
2 Jeremy Grotenhuis SR Christian Libert 2:11.6h 8
3 Jackson Halford SO Waiakea 2:12.7h 6
4 Tyde Kunishiro JR Hilo 2:13.9h 4
5 John Fratinardo SR Kamehameha HI 2:14.3h 2
6 Wayne Pavao JR Keaau 2:17.53 1
Boys 1500 Meter Run
1 Daniel Brooks SR Keaau 4:27.4h 10
2 Jackson Halford SO Waiakea 4:45.0h 8
3 Kevin Olsen JR Keaau 4:45.9h 6
4 Tyde Kunishiro JR Hilo 4:47.1h 4
5 Wayne Pavao JR Keaau 4:47.3h 2
6 John Fratinardo SR Kamehameha HI 4:54.9h 1
Boys 3000 Meter Run
1 Johan Kaipers SO Hilo 10:29.7h 10
2 John Fratinardo SR Kamehameha HI 11:00.3h 8
3 Jordan Grotenhuis FR Christian Libert 11:15.5h 6
4 BO Rasse SR Waiakea 11:22.1h 4
5 James Clubbs JR Keaau 11:29.1h 2
Boys 110 Meter Hurdles
1 Francis Blas III SR Kamehameha HI 16.3h 1 10
2 Everett McKee JR Kamehameha HI 16.4h 2 8
3 Cameron Calistro SR Hilo 17.1h 2 6
4 Easten Tanimoto SO Kamehameha HI 17.9h 1 4
5 Dan Taylor JR Hilo 18.4h 1 2
6 Dylan Alip SO Kamehameha HI 19.5h 1 1
Boys 300 Meter Hurdles
1 Cameron Calistro SR Hilo 41.9h 3 10
2 Francis Blas III SR Kamehameha HI 42.2h 3 8
3 Everett McKee JR Kamehameha HI 43.4h 3 6
4 Damien Packer SO Keaau 44.8h 3 4
5 Cliff Eriksson SO Keaau 44.8h 2 2
6 Sai Weiss SR Hilo 45.2h 3 1
Boys 4×100 Meter Relay
1 Kamehameha Schools Hawaii 44.4h 10
2 Keaau High School 45.2h 8
3 Hilo 47.1h 6
4 Hilo ‘B’ 48.1h
5 Ka’u High School 53.1h 4
Boys 4×400 Meter Relay
1 Hilo 3:47.6h 10
2 Waiakea 3:48.7h 8
3 Hilo ‘B’ 3:51.8h
4 Keaau High School 3:54.9h 6
5 Waiakea ‘B’ 4:19.2h
6 Ka’u High School 4:25.5h 4
Boys High Jump
1 Cliff Eriksson SO Keaau 5-04.00 10
2 Jacob St George SR Waiakea 5-02.00 7
2 Easten Tanimoto SO Kamehameha HI 5-02.00 7
4 Ka’u Eggers SO Keaau J5-02.00 4
5 Joseph Ola SO Keaau 5-00.00 2
Boys Pole Vault
1 Wong LI SR Hilo 11-00.00 9
1 Billy Ray JR Hilo 11-00.00 9
3 Nelson Enos SO Keaau J11-00.00 6
4 Isaac DeRego SR Kamehameha HI 10-00.00 4
5 Max Shimamoto SR Kamehameha HI J10-00.00 2
Boys Long Jump
1 Kaenen Akau SO Kamehameha HI 21-05.25 10
2 Jacob Edwards SR Ka’u 20-05.25 8
3 Manta Dircks SR Kamehameha HI 20-04.00 6
4 Alika Kaopua SO Ka’u 19-10.50 4
5 Michael Morikawa FR Waiakea 18-09.00 2
6 Emilio Vallejo JR Waiakea 18-00.50 1
Boys Triple Jump
1 Manta Dircks SR Kamehameha HI 40-07.00 10
2 Damien Packer SO Keaau 39-10.00 8
3 Michael Morikawa FR Waiakea 38-08.75 6
4 Travis Winters SO Waiakea 37-06.75 4
5 Ka’u Eggers SO Keaau 37-05.50 2
6 Cameron Anderson SO Waiakea 35-06.50 1
Boys Shot Put
1 David Kekuewa SR Kamehameha HI 42-08.00 10
2 Hawk Hanoa JR Kamehameha HI 41-08.25 8
3 Kainoa Crum SR Kamehameha HI 39-03.00 6
4 Kyle Tirrell JR Hilo 38-07.25 4
5 Ilati Sipinga JR Hilo 37-01.00 2
6 Derrick Krygier SR Pahoa 35-03.50 1
Boys Discus Throw
1 David Kekuewa SR Kamehameha HI 123-05 10
2 Kainoa Crum SR Kamehameha HI 117-10.50 8
3 Hawk Hanoa JR Kamehameha HI 115-04.50 6
4 Kyle Tirrell JR Hilo 111-08 4
5 Derrick Krygier SR Pahoa 110-07.50 2
6 Dathan Toribio SR Keaau 106-02 1
Women – Team Rankings – 16 Events Scored
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1) Hilo 119 2) Keaau High School 107
3) Kamehameha Schools Hawaii 104 4) Waiakea 102
5) Ka’u High School 44 6) Pahoa 2
Men – Team Rankings – 16 Events Scored
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1) Kamehameha Schools Hawaii 162 2) Keaau High School 106
3) Hilo 93 4) Waiakea 82
5) Christian Liberty 22 6) Ka’u High School 20
7) Pahoa 3