Track meet gets late start on Maui

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

WAILUKU, Maui — Gone to Maui was easier said that done last night for athletes flying from other islands for the Island Movers State Track and Field Championships.

All public school teams flew Hawaiian Airlines because the state has a contract with Hawaiian to fly at a discount. Hawaiian officials, especially Liane Komatsu and Bernie Salvador, worked tirelessly for two weeks to accommodate teams flying from all over the state to state championship tournaments in girls basketball and baseball on Oahu, tennis on Kauai and track and field on Maui.

But the load of more than 750 athletes, coaches and trainers plus the usual Friday exodus of people to different islands apparently was more than Hawaiian could handle. Four track teams arrived on Maui later than planned, and the flight carrying Waiakea High of Hilo touched down at the aiport in Kahului 20 minutes before the meet was to start. Obliging officials delayed the start of the meet a little more than 20 minutes so that Waiakea boys hurdler Bertram Sylva could have his chance to qualify. Sylva came to Satoki Yamamoto Track with the 26th and slowest qualifying time of 16.54 seconds. But, "He came running into the stadium so fast, he was almost hyperventillating," said Keith Amemiya, executive diredtor of Hawaii High School Athletic Association. Sylva improved his time nearly a half-second, to 16.02 seconds and 15th best, but did not qualify. The trials were proceeding at a pace that would see the last race start at 12:55 a.m. today.

Athletes were to return this afternoon for final field events at 2 p.m. and the first running event at 5:40. At the other end of the punctuality spectrum from Waiakea was Kahuku, whose principal gave the team permission to leave for Maui on Thursday. They even got to practice at War Memorial Stadium the day before the meet.

That angered some other public schools, who noted that schools superintendent Paul LeMahieu had ordered after the teachers' strike ended that no class time be lost for students to travel or participate in special events.

Kahuku officials said that after his strong public pronouncement, LeMahieu later privately notified principals they could use their discretion on early release. Kahuku did.

Waiakea athletic director Ken Yamase said no Waiakea athletes were being released early for any event.

Qualifiers

Boys

100 -- Daniel Inferrera, St. Louis, 10.83; DeMarques Potter, Molokai, 11.22; Hoku Gonzales, Lahainaluna, 11.43; Tyler Perkins, Kamehameha, 11.24; B.J. Murakami, Punahou, 11.28; Kua`uana Kekuewa, Punahou, 11.49; Todd Higa, Waianae, 11.32; Scott Botelho, Damien, 11.37.

110 high hurdles -- Charles Rania, Punahou, 15.00; Jesse Lee, Kamehameha, 15.37; Troy Nakamatsu, Punahou, 15.40; Travin Tran, Roosevelt, 15.63; William Broadus jr., Mililani, 15.64; Tillis Sionsen, Waianae, 15.70; Mike Baji, Hilo, 15.71;  Brandon Kai, Punahou, 15.87.

1,500 -- Andrew Kamikawa, Mililani, 4:17.05; Daniel Han, Punahou, 4:17.99; Sam Westcoat, Kamehameha, 4:18.05; Patrick Morrissey, Iolani, 4:18.05; Todd Iacovelli, Punahou, 4:20.73; Justin Peterson, Kamehameha, 4:21.74;  Zoe Douglas, Pahoa, 4:21.94; Kevin Johnson, Seabury Hall, 4:21.99.

4x100 relay -- St. Louis 43.81; Punahou 43.87; Kamehameha 43.89; Mililani 44.31; Hilo 44.48; Radford 44.75; Baldwin 44.75; Baldwin 45.00; Kohala 45.20.

400 -- Andre Nacaxe, St. Joseph, 50.39; DeMarques Potter, Molokai,  50.48; Jonathan Peralto, Hilo, 50.67; Robert Theriault, Moanalua, 51.55; Kali French, Mililani, 51.58; David Rivera, St. Anthony, 51.71; Troy Nakamatsu, Punahou, 51.74; Nick Frazier, Kamehameha, 51.76.

300 intermediate hurdles -- Jesse Lee, Kamehameha, 39.92; Charles Rania, Punahou, 40.34; Stanley Bucasas, Waimea, 40.40; Nick Berry, Konawaena, 40.80;  Christian Dye, Kapaa, 41.00; Gino Gosiaco, St. Louis, 41.06; Travin Tran, Roosevelt, 41.32; JD Potter, Molokai, 41.37.

800 -- Andrew Nelson, Seabury Hall, 2:02.14; Jonathan Peralto, Hilo, 2:04.52; Andrew Kamikawa, Mililani, 2:04.68; Michael Fujioka, Punahou, 2:04.14; Patrick Morrissey, Iolani, 2:04.55; Cody Bergfalk, Kealakehe, 2:05.04;  Justin Salvador, Damien, 2:05.96;  Jon Cardenas, Lutheran, 2:05.41.

200 -- Daniel Inferrera, St. Louis, 22:39; DeMarques Potter, Molokai, 22.41; Andre Nacaxe, St. Joseph, 22.80; Tyler Perkins, Kamehameha, 23.14; Robert Theriault, 23.44; Brad Lau, Honokaa, 23.47; JD Potter, Molokai, 23.47; Keith Devey, St. Anthony, 23.50.

4x400 relay -- Hilo 3:31.56; Punahou 3:33.36; Kamehameha 3:33.51; St. Anthony 3:33.90; Iolani 3:34.24; Pearl City 3:36.94; Baldwin 3:37.85; Moanalua 3:38.59.

Shot put (marks carry over to finals) -- A.J. Smith, Kahuku, 53-7; Tallon Torres, Hilo, 50-11 1/2; Jerrod Aveglio, Kahuku, 50-5 1/2; Dane Uperesa, Punahou, 50-2; Kalani Siliga, Hilo, 50-0; Donny Mateaki, Iolani, 49-7; Andrew Dacanay, Baldwin, 49-0 1/2; Siota Malu, Waianae, 48-3; Xavier Hoolulu, Kailua, 44-11.

Trials were not held in: 3,000; long jump, pole vault, high jump, discus, and triple jump.

Girls

100 -- Kelly Figuereira, Sacred Hearts, 12.40; Lauran Dignam, Iolani, 12.56; Noelle Yempuku, Sacred Hearts, 12.88; Raine Arndt, Kamehameha, 12.88; Ashley Dutro, Punahou, 12.91; Kahea Silva, Hilo, 12.99; Koren Takeyama, Baldwin, 13.11; Shameice Logan, Leilehua, 13.11.

100 high hurdles -- Natasha Kai, Kahuku, 15.23; Tatiana Romano, Baldwin, 15.97; Rosemary Workman, Mililani, 16.03; Nicole Wright, Kalaheo, 16.38; Malia Magers, Hawaii Prep, 16.79; Chanel Zeisel, Punahou, 16.88; Krisha Kai, Kahuku, 16.93; Amy Malinowski, St. Joseph, 17.17.

1,500 -- Tia Ferguson, Seabury Hall, 45:55.66; Annie Kawasaki, St. Francis, 5:02.15;  Jessica Domingo, Kamehameha, 5:03.75; Becky Jones, Iolani, 5:08.53; Lynn Kamimoto, Punahou, 5:08.90; Annie Loney, King Kekaulike, 5:10.15; Christine Orpuz, La Pietra, 5:10.17; Frances Ross, Hawaii Prep, 5:11.36.

4x100 relay -- Sacred Hearts, 50.03; Iolani, 51.06; Punahou, 51.45; Mililani, 51.54; Kamehameha, 51.80; Kahuku, 51.82; Hilo, 52.14; Roosevelt, 52.71.

400 -- Lauran Dignam, Iolani, 1:00.13; Coby Ackerman, Hawaii Prep, 1:00.23; Carly Killam, Punahou, 1:01.72; Anna Berger, St. Francis, 1:01.28; Adrian Buesa, St. Anthony, 1:01.82; Angela Fargo, Sacred Hearts, 1:02.32; Heather Kalei, Waiakea, 1:02.95; Malia Ahu, Hilo, 1:03.15.

300 intermediate hurdles -- Natasha Kai, Kahuku, 46.08; Tatiana Romano, Baldwin, 47.78; Kaily Lam, Punahou, 47.93; Amy Malinowski, St. Joseph 48.43;  Jasmine Fujioka, Kaiser, 49.05; Tiffany Taylor, Punahou, 50.04; Haunani Bertelmann, Lahainaluna, 48.95; Kira Lee, Hawaii Prep, 49.88.

800 -- Coby Ackerman, Hawaii Prep, 2:24.52; Pippa Macdonald, Punahou, 2:25.16; Anna Berger, St. Francis, 2:25.92; Carmen Calpo, Pearl City, 2:26.31;  Annie Kawasaki, St. Francis, 2:28.48; Denise Anders, Roosevelt, 2:28.56; Orion Wilson, Pearl City, 2:28.57; Jessica Domingo, Kamehameha, 2:28.59.

200 -- Kelly Figueira, Sacred Hearts, 25.69; Lauran Dignam, Iolani, 26.42; Chandi Bickford, King Kekaulike, 26:59; Ashley Dutro, Punahou, 27:02; Aleina Hammonds, Mililani, 27:13; Raine Arndt, Kamehameha, 27:41; Cherina Tucker, Mililani, 27:63; Jessica McKinnon, St. Anthony, 27.65.

4x400 relay -- King Kekaulike 4:13.64; Baldwin 4:14.71; Sacred Hearts 4:17.19; Punahou 4:17.27; Hawaii Prep 4:17.64; Iolani 4:17.79; Pearl City 4:18.35; Kamehameha 4:18.82.

Shot put (marks carry over to finals) -- Natalie Fujimoto, Punahou, 41-11; Chelsey Torres, Hilo, 38-11 1/2; Ashlyn Russell, Baldwin, 36-11; Krystal Moore, Hilo, 35-7; Virginia Mahoney, Hilo, 34-5; Nani Loui, Punahou, 34-4; Annie Mailo, Baldwin 33-6; Sassy Fely, Kahuku, 33-5.

Trials were not held in: 3,000; long jump, pole vault, high jump, discus, and triple jump.