Isle File
Team Hawai'i paddlers fourth in Tahiti races
Advertiser Staff
Team Hawai'i had the best showing ever by a Hawai'i-based team during the Hawaiki Nui Va'a canoe races in Tahiti last week.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Team Hawai'i, which was comprised of 10 paddlers from various clubs around the state, placed fourth overall after three long-distance races in as many days. Tahitian teams took the top three places.
Warrior Ron Bradbury avoids Island All-Star's Greg Dingo in a semi-pro game. The game raised money to benefit families of New York firefighter players killed in Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
More than 80 teams from around the world participated in the races, which are considered the largest sporting event in Tahiti.
On Friday, Team Hawai'i won the third race of the event, becoming the first non-Tahitian team to win an individual race in the event's 10-year history. Team Hawai'i completed the 36-mile course in 4 hours, 24 minutes, 13 seconds, to beat Pirae Va'a Mobil by more than three minutes.
The three races travel to different islands. The first race covered 27 miles (Team Hawai'i finished 10th) and the second race 16 miles (Team Hawai'i was sixth).
Members of Team Hawai'i were Kai Bartlett, Kekoa Bruhn, Jim Foti, Mike Judd, Thibert Lussiaa, Aaron Napoleon, Kealii Paiaina, Mike Pedersen, Andrew Penny and Tim Twigg-Smith.
In the 25-mile women's race, Hawai'i's Kai Makana/Ruahatu placed third. Tamari'i To'omaru from Tahiti was first.
In a 25-mile junior race for paddlers 18 and younger, the Keahiakahoe Canoe Club from Windward O'ahu placed 10th.
VOLLEYBALL
• BYUH wins: Xu Dan and Ashley Moeai had 17 kills apiece as Brigham Young-Hawai'i defeated Western New Mexico, 30-24, 30-16, 27-30, 30-21, in a Pacific West Conference match last night at Silver City, N.M.
Kimberly Tano led Western New Mexico with 16 kills.
BYUH is 11-5 overall and 7-4 in the PacWest. Western New Mexico is 10-13 and 3-6.
• Chaminade loses: Olivia Munro had 14 kills as Montana State-Billings defeated Chaminade, 30-20, 30-16, 30-23, in a Pacific West Conference match last night at Billings, Mont.
Montana State-Billings is 14-10 overall and 6-5 in the PacWest. Chaminade is 6-10 and 3-5.
• Hilo splits: Hawai'i-Hilo split a pair of matches yesterday at the Texas Woman's Tournament in Denton, Texas.
Amy Wallace had 35 kills as Texas A&M-Commerce defeated the Vulcans, 30-15, 28-30, 21-30, 34-32, 15-12.
Sara Pilgreen had 17 kills for Hilo.
In the second match, Pilgreen had 12 kills as Hilo (11-13) defeated Texas Woman's College, 30-20, 30-13, 30-13.
MEETING
• QB Club: Hawai'i head football coach June Jones will be the featured speaker at tomorrow's Honolulu Quarterback Club meeting at the Pagoda International Ballroom.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa and Wahine head soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing are also scheduled to appear.
Lunch is $7 and will be served at 11:30 a.m., followed by the program at noon.
Call Al Minn at 261-5143.
