Local track and field scene getting a youthful infusion

By Casey McGuire-Turcotte
Special to The Advertiser

It is where Iolani track and field star Lauran Dignam got her start.

Alysha Cummings, center, runs to a first-place finish in the girls 400 meters during a recent meet at Kaiser High School. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

Division I distance standouts Victoria Chang and Eri Macdonald also got their starts here.

The Hawai'i USA Track and Field Junior Olympics program has served as the starting blocks for many local stars.

But the program is about more than finding tomorrow's track stars.

"Our focus is to get kids interested in track and field, and to make sure that no matter what their ability level, they are enjoying themselves," Hawai'i USATF president Dick Sutton said.

"Sometimes it's the kids with the least talent that try the hardest, and that attitude is worth much more than winning."

Apparently, this positive philosophy has earned a large following.

With more than 700 members (and growing), the Hawai'i USATF meets are becoming one of the largest summer sports programs on O'ahu.

To register, kids ages 7-18 pay a $15 fee to become eligible to compete in USA Track and Field events. Athletes then join one of the 15 club teams in communities around O'ahu, where they practice for 2-3 hours three or four times a week.

The season is composed of six meets held throughout June and July at Kaiser High School, concluding with the championship meet tomorrow.

The meets have been held at the Punahou track in past years, but because of road construction on campus, this year's meets were moved to Kaiser.

Unlike some summer sports, there are no tryouts or cuts in the program and the top eight finishers receive ribbons.

"Everyone gets to participate, and everyone gets to improve," Sutton said.

Many of the athletes in the program are working on their running form for other sports, including soccer and football.

Others are here for more basic reasons.

"Kids naturally like to run, jump and throw things," Sutton said. "Track and field gives them a place to do that other than their parents' living rooms."

Hawai'i Road Runners team mom Jane Washington says the program teaches more than running technique.

"You see the children's personalities grow, and they adapt such a positive outlook about themselves," she said. "It's contagious."

Sutton, who also is the director of The Honolulu Marathon, hopes the program will encourage kids to be fit and healthy throughout life, not only while they are young.

"We want them to know that running is something you can keep doing for a long time," he said. "Improving yourself is really what this program is all about."

Neighbor Island athletes also are starting to show more interest.

Keahi Benzon, 9, who was one of 18 athletes from Kaua'i to compete in the Hershey State Championship meet last weekend, has simple goals when it comes to the meets.

"I like to run and race other people, but my goal is always to win," the sprinter said with a smile.

Scott Allen from Ka'anapali has flown his family to O'ahu five times this summer for track meets, and has spent nearly $7,500.

His son, Kyle, is a blooming middle-distance runner and has won every 400- and 800-meter race this season.

He has secured a berth to the National Junior Olympics meet in Omaha, Neb., on July 23-28. Allen says the trips have been worth every penny.

"Kyle's really into it and has talent," he said. "That he's winning is a lot of fun and all, but the whole experience is great, regardless."

Like most youth sports programs, the Hawai'i USATF Junior Olympic program relies completely on volunteers, including all coaches and officials. It takes upward of 50 volunteers for each meet.

"There is a huge amount of cooperative effort to make this program work," Sutton said. "No one is paid to be there. It's a sport that is kept alive because of volunteer effort."

Sugi Carlson, whose son Kennedy joined the program last summer, has been amazed by the support for the sport by the community.

"Some of these people don't even have kids running and they're still out here helping." she said.

Every volunteer with the program emphasizes the importance of enjoying the sport and the experience.

Steven Watanabe, in his fourth year as head coach for the Kane'ohe Wildcats, says the goal of his club is to encourage health and fitness.

"We take whoever wants to run," he said. "Anyone who runs and finishes is a winner."

Kailua Track Club assistant coach Darby Meyer, whose daughters Eri and Pippa Macdonald have participated in the program for many years, believes fun is the most important aspect of the program.

"The kids work hard, but there's no pressure on performance," she said.