For a team filled with seniors, finishing first only seemed right for the Kahuku High School girls track and field team.

"After all these years, things shouldn't always be the same," Kahuku coach Garth Spurrier said. "You should be getting better."

The Red Raiders, with experience and depth, won last night's O'ahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division Championships at Kaiser Stadium, finishing with 145 points. Kaiser was second with 100.

"All the hard work the past four years has paid off," Kahuku senior Leilani Speer said. "Every girl on the team has worked hard this year. We're very proud."

Speer gave "much mahalos" to the coaching staff, which includes Spurrier, Sean Makaiau, Keala Santiago, Sandy Little, Sterling Carvalho and Duane Fely.

From sprints to distance running to throwers to jumpers, Kahuku showed its depth in nearly every aspect of the meet. In 13 of the 16 events, at least one Red Raider finished in the top six to score points.

Ashley Burt won the 200-meter dash, 400 and high jump, and Speer won the long jump and triple jump. Both were members of the winning 4x400 relay team that included Naomi Blanchard and Leiona Ramirez.

"It's not just individuals, it was more of a team effort," Burt said.

In the tightly contested boys event, Roosevelt edged Moanalua, 78-77, for the team title. Kaiser was third with 75 and Kahuku and Kailua tied for fourth with 74.

"I'm just glad we all put it together," said Roosevelt junior Alex Fowler, who won the long jump and triple jump. "We gave it our all. All the teams put up a big fight."

The Rough Riders were able to distance themselves in the longest race of the meet. Junior Tomoyuki Miura finished third in the 3,000 in 10 minutes, 20.24 seconds to score six points. It proved to be the final points for the Rough Riders, whose 4x400 relay team didn't place.

Kenneth Nguyen won the pole vault for the Rough Riders' only other first-place finish.

Repeat winners from last year were Kaiser's Dawson Vorderbruegge in the 1,500 and 3,000 and Kahuku's Paipai Falemalu in the discus.

Vorderbruegge ran neck-and-neck with Kailua's Kensuke Taylor in both distance races before pulling away in the final 200 meters.

"Pushing by yourself, it's only so much you can do," Vorderbruegge said. "He's a great competitor."

Kaiser sophomore Sarah Clapp went the full distance, winning the girls 1,500, 800 and 3,000. She also ran a leg on the second-place 4x400 relay team, and before the meet played in a soccer game.

"You get tired, but I've mentally trained myself to push it aside and keep going regardless," Clapp said.

Entering last night's meet, Clapp was the only girl in the state to finish the 3,000 in under 11 minutes this year. Her time last night was 11:11.71.

Other boys winners last night included Kahuku's Stan Nakasone (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Kaiser's Kalua Noa (100, 200), Kailua's Alexander Miller (400), Kailua's Taylor (800), Moanalua's Trace Brown (high jump) and Kailua's Chauncy Makainai (shot put).

Girls winners were Kalani's Christine Iha (100 hurdles), Roosevelt's Dezarae Balbas (100), Kaimuki's Monica Umeda (300 hurdles), Roosevelt's Camie Kohashi (pole vault), Kaimuki's Vaioleti Mikaele (discus) and Farrington's Junitta Fonoti (shot put).