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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 27, 2007

Five wins cap busy track meet for Nicolaisen, Saxby

Advertiser Staff

Even with their adrenaline pumping and their teammates cheering them on, Collin Saxby of Hawai'i Prep and Sarah Nicolaisen of Ka'u were spent, but well rewarded after Saturday's Big Island Interscholastic Federation all-comers meet at Konawaena High School.

Both seniors won five events each, and Nicolaisen was close to sweeping all six events she was entered in.

"The last race, the 4x400, I was pretty tired," said Saxby, who won the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes and was a member of Ka Makani's winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. "My adrenaline and my teammates were pushing me on."

Nicolaisen said her win in the 400, an event she doesn't usually compete in, wore her out. She also won triple jump, 100, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, the event that follows the 400.

"I was pretty tired because I never ran a 400 in my life, but I'm used to doing six events," Nicolaisen said.

Nicolaisen was one of four girls who cleared 4 feet, 10 inches in the high jump, but finished tied for third after missing her first two attempts at that height. Winners Kelsey Masuda of Christian Liberty and Cassie Morigaki of Waiakea cleared it on their first attempts.

"I have a lot of support from my family and entire track team," Nicolaisen said. "Our team is probably one of the closest track teams. You can tell when we're running. We have one of the smallest teams (about 10 girls and 10 boys) but we're one of the loudest. You can hear everybody yelling."

Nicolaisen and Saxby could be competing in just as many events at next month's league and state championships.

Saxby is the two-time state runner-up in the 400 and Nicolaisen was the state champion in the 100 and 300 hurdles in 2005.

"I'm just looking forward to trying my best," Saxby said. "Hopefully I can do good."