Kamehameha's Kamaka'ala wins boys title

By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor

KAHULUI, Maui — Iolani placed five runners in the top 30 to capture its first Hawai'i High School Athletic Association boys cross country championship yesterday at the Dunes of Maui Lani golf course.

State cross country champion Jeremy Kamaka'ala of Kamehameha, left, greets runnerup Jon Yasuda of Iolani after the race. Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser

This time, the Kamehameha runner won by 13 seconds. Kamaka'ala took the lead from Yasuda just before the halfway point of the 3-mile race and finished at 16 minutes, 30 seconds. Barely catching his breath, Kamaka'ala greeted each of the other top competitors with a cup of water and a hug.

"He powered through the middle mile and it didn't take that much out of him, and he was able to bring it home," said Kamehameha coach Steve Jenness.

Jenness and just about everyone else involved in the race said it was an extremely challenging course, with hilly terrain, sandy areas and battering winds that gusted more than 35 mph. Kamaka'ala called it "killers."

"I've never run a course as tough as this," he said.

Yasuda said he didn't mind the conditions and credited Kamaka'ala for a winning effort.

"I tried to keep within a good distance but he outkicked me at the end. I beat him last week, but he brought his game today. He was stronger than me today, he kept pulling away."

Kamaka'ala, 15, from Kahuku, finished 14th at last year's state championship and said he was expecting to finish fifth or sixth this year.

"I didn't expect this. This is surreal," he said.

Although Iolani lost Patrick Morrissey, the 2002 state runnerup, coach Jim Rubasch said his team had plenty of depth this year with Yasuda and fellow seniors Franklyn Lau, who finished sixth overall at 17:35, and Tyler Chun (24th, 18:14).

A surprise was Ryan Harada, who Rubasch said was considered to be an alternate but finished the regular season strong. He finished 14th in 17:50. Other team members are Antonio Baclig (18:28), Alexander Stephenson (18:33) and Ryan Chun (19:34).

Iolani scored a meet-low 56 points, followed by Kamehameha (85), Hawai'i Preparatory Academy (96), Punahou (112) and Waiakea (133).

Contact Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser. com or (808) 244-4880.