Punahou led Baldwin by just six points, 55-49 heading into the boys 4x400-meter relay, with Kamehameha (47), and Mililani (42) in position to finish in the top 3.

"We knew we had to take it but we treated it like any other race," said Punahou junior Zach Coronas, who ran the anchor leg. "We go for the win every time."

Punahou finished the meet with 65 total points, followed by Baldwin (54), Kamehameha (49.5) and Mililani (46).

"We have quality event coaches and athletes and they just kept fighting," said boys head coach Mike Pavich. "They showed a lot of pride."

In one of the closest races of the day, D'Andre Benjamin outleaned Baldwin's Colton Quinabo at the finish line to win the boys 110-meter hurdles.

"I thought I got beat," said Benjamin who tripped on his first hurdle and had to come back from deep in the pack to win.

"You just have to run scared," he said. "Run scared."

Quintabo also had his team's overall performance in mind, but he also wanted badly to beat Benjamin.

"He's the best I've seen," Quintabo said. "I've wanted to win this race since I was a freshman. I wanted this one as an individual achievement. My other events are all for the team."

Brothers Keoni and Nick Ucker made sure tiny Christian Liberty, with its enrollment of just over 120 students, was ably represented. Keoni took first place in the boys 1500-meter run and Nick earned valuable points with a fifth-place finish.

"It's awesome to have him out there with me," Keoni Ucker said. "We wanted to do this together."

The pressure of the day manifested in some of the unlikliest competitors.

Damien's Sione Tau, vice president of his senior class and a University of Colorado football recruit, said he was so nervous he woke up at 5 a.m., about three hours earlier than he normally does on a meet day.

"It's different than football," he said. "We're a team, but when you're out there by yourself, it feels like it's all on the line."

That didn't stop Tau from winning the discus throw and and placing fifth in the shot put.