Participation numbers for this spring's state tournaments will remain unchanged despite statewide budget cuts, after a vote by the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association's executive board Wednesday.

At its previous meeting in October, the board addressed recently imposed budget restrictions on public schools statewide and a special committee — including an executive director and one athletic director from each of the state's five leagues — was formed to investigate the possibility of reducing state tournament participation as early as this spring.

But on Wednesday, some members of the executive board said state tournament participation was valued by their league and the board eventually voted in favor of maintaining the status quo, according to HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya.

MASSENBURG RECEIVES CROSS COUNTRY AWARD

King Kekaulike senior Bailey Massenburg has been named Gatorade Hawai'i Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the course.

Massenburg won the state championship at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy in October with a three-mile time of 20 minutes, 42.90 seconds, more than 20 seconds ahead of the runner-up. She also has maintained a 4.07 GPA, is an accomplished pianist and participated in a three-week service mission in Nicaragua last summer.