ISLE FILE
Kaua'i's Irons wins Quiksilver Pro surf meet in Japan
Advertiser Staff
Reigning world surfing champion Andy Irons of Kaua'i won the Niijima Quiksilver Pro today in 2- to 3-foot waves at Niijima Island, Japan.
Irons defeated Australian Joel Parkinson in the final to win his third World Championship Tour event in five starts this season. Irons won $30,000 to boost his season's earnings to $100,000.
"I can't believe I'm in Japan and actually won," Irons said. "Especially against 'Parko' as he was surfing so good in the semis. It kind of brought my confidence down and I thought I had no chance at all. I just caught a bunch of little waves, but it ended up paying off."
Irons defeated Australia's Kieren Perrow, 13.83-11.84, in the semifinals before trouncing Parkinson, 13.4-8.7, in the 30-minute final.
"I just couldn't get in the rhythm with the waves," said Parkinson, who had advanced with an 18.0-16.56 win over fellow Australian Mick Fanning. "I was looking for anything, but I got nothing. Andy's the best surfer in the world and hands down he's the hardest guy to beat."
Irons acknowledged he's had "an unbelievable year so far. ... There are still eight events left so we're not even halfway through, but I'm definitely psyched (about defending his world title)."
WRESTLING
• Chun falls to nemesis: Clarissa Chun of Kapolei lost to national champion Patricia Miranda decisively yesterday in Indianapolis in a best-of-three series for USA Wrestling's 48 kg (105.5 pounds) spot in the World Championships in September.
Miranda won the first match 13-0, scored as a technical fall and stopped when Miranda's lead went above 10 points 2:58 into the 3-minute first round. In the second match, Miranda pinned Chun in 4:02. She was leading 11-1.
Chun and Miranda are wrestlers-in-residence at the Olympic Training Center at Colorado Springs. Both have been members of U.S. National teams, but Chun has never defeated Miranda in a major match.
Chun is a 1999 Roosevelt High graduate; another school was listed in yesterday's Advertiser.
In the 67kg (147.5-pound division), Stephany Lee of Salt Lake won "true third place" by beating Heather Martin of Wellington, Ohio, 10-0. Lee scored three takedowns and two 3-point throws.
SHOOTING
• Punahou finishes second: Punahou School's state champion air riflery team took second place and Kara Tellio placed fourth individually Saturday in the national Junior Olympics 3-position sporter championship.
Punahou scored 4,223 points with a mixed team of Tellio (seventh with 1,076 points), Vicci Yau (14th, 1,069), Christin Kam (25th, 1,054) and Michael Tanaka (59th, 1024).
In individual competition, Tellio was fourth with 1,162 points.
VOLLEYBALL
• Hawai'i All-Stars advance: The Hawai'i All-Stars, an 18-and-under volleyball club based in Honolulu, defeated three California teams yesterday to advance to the eight-team gold division championship round in the SCVA Boys Classic at Long Beach, Calif.
The All-Stars, who entered the 71-team national tournament seeded 28th, are now seeded sixth after posting a 9-0 record in pool play.
Scores in For the Record.
