ISLE FILE
Irons ousted in surf meet at Spain
Advertiser Staff
Andy Irons' run toward a second consecutive world surfing championship suffered a setback yesterday when he was eliminated in the first round of the Billabong Pro Mundaka.
The first round was completed in 3- to 5-foot waves at Mundaka, Spain.
In most World Championship Tour events, no surfers are eliminated after the first round (the winners receive a bye into the third round, the losers compete in the second round). However, an exception was made for this contest to assure it would be completed in time.
"It's not our format and I wasn't there when they decided to change it and I don't even remember being asked about it," Irons said. "The waves were terrible on the low tide and it was pretty much a closeout."
Irons placed third in his first-round heat, behind Australian Phil MacDonald and California's Nathan Yeomans.
Irons entered the event ranked No. 1 on the 2003 World Championship Tour. His closest competitors, No. 2 Kelly Slater and No. 3 Taj Burrow, advanced yesterday.
Kalani Robb of O'ahu's North Shore also advanced to the second round.
JUDO
• Takata takes third: Taylor Takata of Wahiawa took third in the 60-kilogram division at last weekend's 2003 U.S. Open Judo Championship in Las Vegas.
Canada's Will Frazer won the gold and Dynell Pinder of the U.S. got silver. Takata, a 2000 Iolani School graduate, and Cristobal Aburto of Mexico shared third.
Takata lost his second match to Aburto, then won four matches in the repechage (second-chance) round to earn his medal.
A total of 334 competitors from 22 countries competed.
The United States won 30 medals. Canada was second with 13.
TRAMPOLINE
• Vercruyssen at World Games: Hawai'i's Nani Vercruyssen, 11, the state's first elite trampolinist, will compete on the U.S. National Team in the World Age Group Games in Hanover, Germany.
The event starts Thursday.
Vercruyssen is ranked No. 1 in the nation on the double mini-trampoline and No. 4 nationally on trampoline.
More than 1,000 athletes will compete with as many as 40 countries sending their elite competitors in four age groups (11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-over).
Elite is a small select group of athletes who only compete among themselves for spot on the U.S. National Team. According to Dr. Max Vercruyssen, director of the Hawai'i Academy and Nani's coach, only the top 1 percent of all trampolinists attain elite status.
VOLLEYBALL
• Karleusa honored: Hawai'i Pacific sophomore Nadica Karleusa earned Pacific West Conference Player of the Week honors for helping the Sea Warriors beat Montana State-Billings and Chaminade.
Karleusa amassed 46 kills in three matches as HPU improved to 13-2 overall and 5-0 in the PacWest.
GOLF
• Ting eliminated: Desiree Ting, of Wailuku, Maui, lost her second-round match at the USGA Women's Mid-Amateur Championship yesterday in Hilton Head, S.C.
Amber Marsh, of Greensboro, N.C., defeated Ting, 6 and 4.
