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Sports

Strong finish adds up to another Buffanblu title

DEREK BENBROOK / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
Seabury Hall's Kailea Tracey-Visintainer experienced the joy of victory yesterday in the 200-meter dash in the state track and field meet on Maui.
This story has been corrected.

WAILUKU » Sometimes, the most valuable skill for a dynastic program is as simple as knowing basic math.

Up only 4.33 points going into the final event, Punahou knew what was necessary to fend off upset-minded Seabury Hall last night at the Island Movers/HHSAA Girls Track and Field State Championships in rollicking War Memorial Stadium.

A crowd of about 2,000 saw runners and jumpers deal with strong gusts all afternoon and night.

Seabury Hall, anchored by Stanford-bound Kailea Tracey-Visintainer, won the 4×400 relay as expected in the final event. But Punahou, which needed to finish no worse than two spots behind Seabury Hall, sent its best four to the track: Megan Herndon, Julia Brand, Kayla Bryan and Lahaina Zoller.

The result was a second-place finish in the 4×400 — losing to Seabury Hall by just 1 second — that clinched the team championship for Punahou’s girls.

Punahou led for most of the 4×400. Zoller’s strong finish sealed the title for the Buffanblu, who have won three in a row and seven of the last eight under coach Duncan Macdonald. Punahou has also won 14 of the last 17 girls crowns and has now amassed a whopping 33 state championships.

"I wouldn’t call it a dynasty," Macdonald said. "But our team did a good job. I feel relieved. We came in looking good on paper, but we don’t really have superstars. That’s how it goes in high school. You can’t guarantee anything."

The top home-island team, Seabury Hall, kept it close. Tracey-Visintainer won the 200-meter dash (24.96 seconds) and the 400 (57.05) before anchoring the 4×400. She scratched out of the 100 to save her strength for the later races.

Punahou was a heavy favorite entering the meet, but some early struggle opened the door to Seabury Hall. Entering the 4×400, the point totals were 58.33 for Punahou, 54 for Seabury Hall and 51 for Kahuku.

Punahou finished with 66.33, Seabury had 64 and Kahuku closed with 51.

Having Bryan and Zoller step in for the 4×400 made a significant difference.

"We try to rest the athletes that will run on the last day," Macdonald said, recalling the last time Punahou faced a threat so late in a state meet. "The last time it was this close, we lost to Kamehameha."

Tracey-Visintainer had no regrets.

"I’m ecstatic. We have seven girls and six scored. To think we competed with a team that has 50 or 60," she said. "We’re small in numbers, but big at heart."

Zoller, who also helped Punahou’s 4×100 relay team win and finished sixth in the 400, was ready for a clutch performance.

"I came into the meet knowing I might run on our 4×400. It’s a good, satisfying feeling to beat some talented teams," she said.

The meet featured several outstanding individual performances. Kahuku’s Zhane Santiago competed in four events, scratching out of the 100 to win in two races.

The senior took the long jump with a best leap of 18 feet, 4 inches. That was nearly a foot farther than up-and-coming phenom Lia Galdeira of Konawaena.

She also won the 100 hurdles in 14.69 seconds, edging ‘Iolani’s Abrianna Johnson-Edwards (14.85).

Santiago (36-10.5) was second to Punahou’s Christine Tsai (36-10.75) in the triple jump.

Another sophomore, Raion Black of Christian Academy, won the 100 dash in 12.28, topping Andrea Hinkle of Radford (12.35) and Galdeira (12.40).

Kapolei junior Charlinda Ioane got past rival Joshlyn Noga of Kahuku in the discus, throwing a personal record 138 feet, 5 inches for the win.

"It was an early Mother’s Day gift," she said, hugging her mother, Davilyn Neilson.

Overcast skies and a cool breeze helped long-distance runners. Zoe Sims, a sophomore from Hawaii Prep, won the 1,500 run (4:45.61). Seabury Hall freshman Dakota Grossman, who finished less than a second behind Sims, later won the 3,000 run (10:42.53), edging Sophie Curatilo of Moanalua.

"Sophie caught up to me and I tried to stay with her and see what I had at the end. I actually surprised myself with the way I finished," Grossman said.

Another young winner was Ua Ruedy, a sophomore from Konawaena via Ke Kula ‘o Ehunuikaimalino immersion school. She edged Brand in the 300 hurdles with a time of 45.38.

"There’s so many big schools, we can show what we have to offer," Ruedy said.

GIRLS STANDINGS

1. Punahou 66.33
2. Seabury Hall 64
3. Kahuku 51
4. ‘Iolani 34
5. Konawaena 30
6. Hawaii Prep 29
7. Radford 25
8. Mililani 22
9. Baldwin 18
10. Christian Academy 16
11. Kamehameha 14.33
12. Moanalua 14
12. Kauai 14
14. Kapolei 11
15. Hawaii Baptist 10.33
16. Molokai 10
17. Pearl City 9
18. Le Jardin 8
18. Kapaa 8
20. Hilo 7
21. Kamehameha-Maui 6
21. Aiea 6
23. Waipahu 5
24. King Kekaulike 4
24. Kalani 4
24. Island Pacific 4
27. Sacred Hearts 2
27. Lahainaluna 2
29. Kealakehe 1
29. Waiakea 1

HIGH JUMP

1. Kalei Adolpho, Molokai 5-02.00
2. Krisha Zane, Mililani 5-00.00
3. Kaylee Silva, Kapaa J5-00.00
4. Savannah Marrotte, Kamehameha J5-00.00
4. Chrstine Tsai, Punahou J5-00.00
4. Lauren Levenson, HBA J5-00.00
7. Lauren Arakawa, ‘Iolani 4-10.00
8. 4 tied at 4-10

POLE VAULT

1. Kristine Felix, Baldwin 12-06.00*
2. Amber Kozaki, Baldwin 12-00.00*
t3. Shina Chung, Hilo 10-06.00
t3. Courtney Terashima, Mililani 10-06.00
5. Taylor-Ashley Moss, Kamehameha 10-00.00
6. Danielle Cournoyer, ‘Iolani 9-06.00
t7. Sydney Forsyth, Punahou 9-00.00
t7. Kaysea Hashizaki, Baldwin 9-00.00

DISCUS

1. Charlinda Ioane, Kapolei 138-05
2. Joshlyn Noga, Kahuku 135-05
3. Hannah Sherrill, Le Jardin 134-04
4. Heaven-lee tanuvasa, Kalani 129-02
5. Hailey Maeda, Punahou 128-01
6. Nicole Puaa, Waipahu 113-06
7. Kekahiliokalani Novikoff, Kamehameha 112-01
8. Lisa Chur, Baldwin 111-10

SHOT PUT

1. Joshlyn Noga, Kahuku 41-08.75
2. Kaimilani Zablan, Kamehameha 40-11.25
3. Hailey Maeda, Punahou 38-11.50
4. Nicole Puaa, Waipahu 38-05.50
5. Hannah Sherrill, Le Jardin 38-02.00
6. Charlinda Ioane, Kapolei 36-10.25
7. Brandy Barnes, Nanakuli 35-02.25
8. Emaiata Maka, Kalani 35-00.50

LONG JUMP

1. Zhane Santiago, Kahuku 18-04.00
2. Emalia Galdeira, Konawaena 17-08.00
3. Ashley Wendt, KS-Maui 17-03.00
4. Christine Tsai, Punahou 16-11.50
5. Erika Liburd, Lahainaluna 16-08.50
6. Amber Camody, Mililani 16-07.25
7. McKenna Davidson, Kealakehe 16-05.75
8. Roxane Gaedeke, Seabury 16-05.25

TRIPLE JUMP

1. Christine Tsai, Punahou 36-10.75
2. Zhane Santiago, Kahuku 36-10.50
3. Heather Schulz, Aiea 36-00.25
4. Ashlee Asada, ‘Iolani 35-09.00
5. Emalia Galdeira, Konawaena 35-08.75
6. Kim Roy, ‘Iolani 34-11.25
7. Sharee Acosta, Moanalua 34-10.00
8. Marley Strand-Nicolaisen, Ka’u 34-07.75

100 HURDLES

1. Zhane Santiago, Kahuku 14.69*
2. Abrianna Johnson-Edwards, Iolani 14.85
3. Kawehi Louis Diamond, Kauai 15.09
4. Amirah Majied, Island Pacific 15.35
5. Lana Queen, Hawaii Prep 16.07
6. Alexia Blalock, Pearl City 16.37
7. Julia Brand, Punahou 24.51
Emalia Galdeira, Konawaena DQ

100

1. Raion Black, Christian Academy 12.28
2. Andrea Hinkle, Radford 12.35
3. Emalia Galdeira, Konawaena 12.40
4. Kayla Bryan, Punahou 12.53
5. Kelsey Cadiente, Kauai 12.59
6. Tyler Whitener, Radford 12.70
7. Kanoelani Yadao, HBA 12.72

1500

1. Zoe Sims, Hawaii Prep 4:45.61
2. Dakota Grossman, Seabury 4:46.40
3. Sophie Curatilo, Moanalua 4:48.04
4. Elli Brady, Punahou 4:29.24
5. Carmen Garson-Shumway, Hilo 5:00.79
6. Kristiana Van Pernis, HPA 5:01.07
7. Kimberly Pugliese, Mililani 5:10.33
8. Heidi Nicholls, HBA 5:11.40

4X100 RELAY

1. Punahou 49.17
(Kayla Bryan, Lahaina Zoeller, Kyle Chun, Courtney King)
2. Radford 49.29
3. Kauai 49.98
4. ‘Iolani 50.48
5. King Kekaulike 51.34
6. Kahuku 51.39
7. Kealakehe 51.90
8. Kapolei 51.94

400

1. Kailea Tracey-Visintaine, Seabury 57.05
2. Zoe Sims, Hawaii Prep 58.62
3. Diamond Briscoe, Pearl City 58.98
4. Kayla Taulapapa, Kahuku 59.54
5. Alexis Damo, Sacred Hearts 1:00.12
6. Lahaina Zoller, Punahou 1:00.53
7. Kayla Kirk, Sacred Hearts 1:00.88
8. Randi Estrada, Keaau 1:01.23

300 HURDLES

1. Ua Ruedy, Konawaena 45.38
2. Julia Brand, Punahou 46.03
3. Kanoelani Yadao, Hawaii Baptist 46.89
4. Lana Queen, Hawaii Prep 46.90
5. Rachael Hinkel, Kapaa 47.91
6. Megan Herndon, Punahou 48.25
7. Amirah Majied, Island Pacific 49.28
8. Adrienne Jean Sylva, Pearl City 53.00

800

1. Breanne Ball, ‘Iolani 2:17.19
2. Dylan Ross, Seabury Hall 2:25.04
3. Lea Lundblad, Seabury Hall 2:25.13
4. Kristiana Van Pernis, Haw. Prep 2:27.02
5. Jessica Johnson, Kamehameha 2:27.84
6. Haley Rasse, Waiakea 2:29.93
7. Elli Brady, Punahou 2:33.54
8. Briyanna Wilson, Radford 2:33.78

4X400 RELAY

1. Seabury Hall 4:00.32
(Ayanna Watende, Lea Lundblad, Dylan
Ross, Kailea Tracey-Visintainer)
2. Punahou 4:01.74
3. ‘Iolani 4:08.99
4. Mililani 4:13.70
5. Pearl City 4:17.15
6. Kealakehe 4:26.47

3,000

1. Dakota Grossman, Seabury Hall 10:42.53
2. Sophie Curatilo, Moanalua 10:43.12
3. Melissa Wong, Punahou 10:57.40
4. Kimberly Pugliese, Mililani 11:04.58
5. Emily Peck, Seabury Hall 11:15.40
6. Heidi Nicholls, Hawaii Baptist 11:20.61
7. Noe Lum, Punahou 11:21.71
8. Joy Claypoole, Island High 11:21.86

200

1. Kailea Tracey-Visintainer, Seabury 24.96
2. Andrea Hinkle, Radford 25.29
3. Raion Black, Christian Academy 25.33
4. Emalia Galdeira, Konawaena 25.48
5. Maya Palaroan, King Kekaulike 25.85
6. Kanoelani Yadao, Hawaii Baptist 25.89
7. Erika Liburd, Lahainaluna 26.00
8. Shatres Ahnee, Campbell 26.00

CORRECTION

» In the girls’ 4×400 relay, Punahou’s time was 4:01.74. Another time was listed on in the above article.

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