The first track meet of the 2015 BIIF season had several highlights despite a below-average turnout on Saturday at Konawaena High School. A couple of teams decided not to make the trip and many juniors from all across the Big Island were absent because of SAT testing.
Those track and field athletes that did attend put out solid performances while shaking off the rust of the offseason. Leading the performers Saturday where the 4×100 relay girls squads from Kealakehe and Konawaena.
The Waveriders picked up right where they left off in 2014 after finishing third at the HHSAA state meet. The team of Alysa Gamache, Nicole Cristobal, Keana Fudala and Hi‘i Mano‘i finished first in a time of 51.26 seconds.
Gamache, a senior, also placed second in the 100 and fifth in the 200 last season. Fudala is also a senior and the pair are leading the way for Cristobal — who was the BIIF champion in the long jump and runner-up in the triple jump in 2014 — and multisport star Mano‘i.
“I thought we ran pretty good today and it felt pretty smooth,” Gamache said. “We have a little bit to work out but I think we have it.”
All three girls echoed this sentiment and said that the goal this year is to beat their time from last season and take home the gold at state. Mano‘i added that she would also like the team to beat the state record time.
The Kealakehe squad looked fluid through their transitions and took a large lead from the start of the race. That lead help until the end, with only Konawaena managing to make up any ground in the last leg of the race.
The Wildcats’ much younger squad proved to be an immediate threat to Kealakehe this season with its second-place performance. Konawaena, led by the three Molina sisters — Chanelle, Celena and Cherilyn — along with fellow basketball player Mikayla Tablit, finished in a time of 52.77, despite nearly blowing the handoff in the first transition. However, the team’s sheer athleticism and speed allowed them to make up a lot of ground on the front-running Kealakehe squad and overtake the other teams in attendance.
Errors are to be expected from such an inexperienced group of runners. While all four are standout basketball players, only one, Celena Molina, ran track last year. Tablit, a freshman, competed in track when she was younger but after a lengthy hiatus, is returning this year. This is the first year in the sport for junior Chanelle Molina and freshman Cherilyn Molina.
Chanelle, the eldest Molina, decided to pick up the sport to help her stay in shape for basketball. Molina was recently named a Gatorade Player of the Year for the second time and was chosen to be on Team Aloha, an all-star squad based out of Oahu that brings together the best athletes in the state. They will compete in a tournament in Arizona against other top state teams from around the country.
Chanelle Molina was happy overall with her first 4×100 race but knows her relay squad still has work to do to catch up to the Waveriders.
“Our first handoff was a little shaky, but other than that the race was good,” Chanelle Molina said. “Kealakehe is really fast and experienced. This was our first meet and we are getting better and getting closer to matching up with their level.”
The other Molina sisters, along with Tablit — who feels like an honorary sister to the Molinas — emphasized the mistake on the first handoff and agreed that more improvement is needed. They all like where the team stands right now after having such little time to prepare with the basketball season running long because of a D-I state title run.
Waiakea pole vaulters reach new height
Waiakea pole vaulters Darien Calicdan and Monique Apuakehau finished first and second respectively in the girls competition. Both cleared a height of 10-feet, 6-inches. Calicdan finished first with fewer attempts. She won the BIIF meet last year and finished fifth at state with a height of less than she accomplished on Saturday. She cleared 10-6 in preseason competition as well.
“I trained hard every day, never gave up and listened to my coach to get better,” Calicdan said. “My goal is to finish in the top three at state and repeat as BIIF champion.”
For Apuakehau, this was the first time in a competition she has cleared 10-6. She accomplished it on her second attempt.
“Since last season, I have been training pretty much every day,” Apuakehau said. “Darien and I always push each other. I know I can go higher because I have done so in practice, but it is the meet that counts.”
Konawaena 4×400 relays sweep field
The Konawaena girls and boys’ relay teams ran to first place finishes on Saturday. The girls squad of Cherilyn Molina, Celena Molina, Shali Nakamoto and Tablit finished 23 seconds ahead of the next fastest team with a time of 4:20.60. The boys squad of Simon Ellis, Auka Adams, Hauoli Akau and Thomas Johnston edged out Keaau with a time of 3:41.23.
Vartic held back with injury
Konawaena’s Luca Vartic was held out of Saturday’s home meet due to a hamstring injury. Vartic, last year’s BIIF champion and state silver medalist in the 100-meter dash, says that the injury has affected his training but he is trying to stay positive. He expects to compete next week at Keaau.
“Luca is very dedicated, he is a hard worker and a great talent,” said Konawaena coach Patrick Bradley. “He is getting stronger and faster every day.”
Other notable standouts
Kealakehe’s Keili Dorn also had a stellar first meet, winning the 800 in a time of 2:34.44, the 1500 in a time of 5:17.22 and the 3000 in a time of 11:38.29. Kamehameha’s Saydee Aganus won the girls 100 and 200 meter dashes in a time of 12:70 and 26.42 respectively. She also took the 300 hurdles in a time of 50.56. Hilo’s Mehana Sabado-Halpern took the girls 400 in a time of 1:00.88. In the girls 100 hurdles, Hawaii Prep’s Ella Kotner won in a time of 18.08.
Picking up wins in the girls field events were Keaau’s Dausha Alameda (high jump, 4-8), Kealakehe’s Cristobal (long jump, 16-2 and triple jump, 35-7.5), Hilo’s Chenoa Rogers (shot put, 34-5.25) and Hilo’s Courtnie Pacyao (discus, 97-4).
Kealakehe’s Joseph Benitez took the boys 100 with a time of 11.92. Hilo’s Cohlby Ray Espaniola won the 200 in a time of 23.97. Kealakehe’s Gavin Ulman won the 400 with a time of 52.24. The 800 was won by Keaau’s Jeffery Ferrell in a time of 2:08.33. Teammate Carlos Valdez won the 1500 in a time of 4:24.00, and the 3000 in a time of 9:39.68. In the hurdles, Keaau’s Maurice Smith won the 110 competition in 16:61, while Kamehameha’s Tre Evans-Dumaran won the 300 in a time of 43.21. Hilo took the boys 4×100 in a time of 46.23.
Winning in the boys’ field events were Keaau’s Smith (high jump, 5-10), Kamehameha’s Lucas DeRego (pole vault, 13-0), Konawaena’s Akau (long jump, 19-1), Hilo’s Espaniola (triple jump, 42-2.5) and Hilo’s David Pakele (shot put, 39-5 and discus, 123-11).