Tsai takes 2 to help Punahou sweep in track

FL MORRIS / fmorris@staradvertiser.com

Punahou's Christine Tsai soared to victory in the triple jump on Friday. She also won the high jump to help the Buffanblu sweep both boys and girls titles.

She’s won over and over to the point of domination.

Christine Tsai had been a regular two-event winner in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

A consistent, elite competitor in the long, high and triple jumps, the Punahou senior posted the state’s top numbers in the high jump and triple jump.

This week at the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championships was no different. She took the high jump on Wednesday, and the triple jump Friday, posting her winning leap on her third and final try (36 feet, 6.5 inches). She placed third in the long jump while teammate Tori Houston won with a leap of 17 feet, 6 inches.

Punahou swept the boys and girls team titles on a breezy day at Kamehameha’s Kunuiakea Stadium.

Tsai is a qualifier and contender in her three events with bests of 17-3.25 in the long, 5-4 in the high and 36-10-plus in the triple. Though she’s better this spring than last year in the long and triple, her top competition — Konawaena’s Lia Galdeira — is closing in this year. Galdeira helped lead her basketball team to three state titles. In track and field, she is in her second season.

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Galdeira was second in the long jump at last year’s state meet on Maui; Tsai was fourth. But Tsai’s favorite event, the triple jump, yielded a gold medal. Tsai fouled on her first two tries before landing in the pit with a winning distance of 36 feet, 10.75 inches — a quarter-inch further than runner-up Zhane Santiago.

Galdeira has improved this year, making her one of the contenders in the triple. Tsai feeds off competition.

"For states, I plan on bringing it. I need to get into a good mental state and rest up. I do better with competition," she said.

Baldwin’s Pelemarie Buika, with a 36-8 in the triple jump, is another serious contender. Kristine Felix of Baldwin, the record-setting pole vaulter, has the longest of the long jumps so far this year at 18-1.

The high jump is wide open. Tsai’s 5-4 this year matches her high of last spring. Her approach is unique.

"I like to train very independently. During practice, I do my own thing. The coaches help me out a lot, but with stretching and running, sometimes my shins are bothering me, so I do my own workout," Tsai said. "I work out depending on how my body feels. I adjust."

The method works because Tsai is driven, enough to go for three events this year, one more than last season.

"She’s strong and determined," Punahou triple jump coach Sean Kleeman said. "Some girls might have more natural talent, but Christine’s got the tenacity to go after it. She’s definitely a hard worker, always looking to improve herself."

The challenge of the triple jump is fun for Tsai, worth all the pain.

"It takes a lot of technique and I like practicing it. It takes a toll on your legs and you have to do the different phases," she said.

The offseason is rest time, when she gets on the water for kayaking and paddling, though she took a break from those sports last winter.

"I’ve been working on my college applications," she explained. "I gave my legs a rest. I can always be that intense in college if I want to."

Tsai was accepted into Yale and chose the Eli over another Ivy League school, Brown.

"I just decided where I want to go. It wasn’t my first choice, but when I went to visit, I really liked the school," she said.

The prospect of being a year-round jumper in indoor and outdoor track would be a big challenge. Tsai has a 3.9 grade-point average and loves math.

"I really like calculus, Mrs. Field. Susie Field, shout out to Mrs. Field," she said.

ILH TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Friday
At Kamehameha

BOYS

Team standings—1. Punahou 168; 2. Kamehameha 145; 3. Saint Louis 46; 4. ‘Iolani 36; 5. Damien 27; 6. Mid-Pacific 23; 7. Hanalani 20; 8. Pac-Five 14; t9. St. Francis 6; t9. Christian Academy 6; 11. Hawaii Baptist 4.

Discus Throw—1. Isaac Savaiinaea, Pun, 146-08; 2. Nick Wong, Dam, 135-06; 3. Kaohukea Sanborn, StF, 135-01; 4. Kiha Sai, KS, 134-04; 5. Chevy Fonseca, KS, 132-02.

Shot Put—1. Isaac Savaiinaea, Pun, 47-09.50; 2. Reeve Koehler, StL, 47-08; 3. Kihaakeanu Sai, KS, 45-03; 4. Keoni Bush-Loo, KS, 44-08; 5. Steven Lakalaka, Pun, 44-06.50.

Long Jump—1. Kiko Whiteley, Pun, 21-06; 2. Reece Alvarado, P5, 21-05.25; 3. Micah Halemano, KS, 20-07.75; 4. Noa Yap, KS, 19-11; 5. Royce Mori, Dam, 19-10.75.

Triple Jump—1. Anthony Pataray, StL, 41-08.75; 2. Jake Kealohi, KS, 41-06.25; 3. Adam Fong, Iol, 40-10.50; 4. Joseph Koroki, Pun, 40-09; 5. Taylor Taluilu, KS, 40-03.

High Jump—1. Kayson Smith-Bejgrowicz, KS, 6-02; 2. Noa Yap, KS, J6-02; T3. Kiko Whiteley, Pun, 6-00; T3. Royce Mori, Dam, 6-00; 5. Travis Matsuzaki, Pun, J6-00.

Pole Vault—1. Bryson Wong, Pun, 13-00; 2. Trent Park, KS, 12-06; 3. Austin Michael Ayer, Pun, J12-06; 4. Josh Burke, Pun, 12-00; 5. Quinn Cassidy, Pun, J12-00.

110m hurdles—

1. Collin Pidot, KS, 16.02; 2. Nathan Ramos, KS, 16.10; 3. Christian Schroppel, P5, 16.20; 4. Joseph Verghese, Pun, 17.00; 5. Kayson Smith-Bejgrowicz, KS, 17.28.

100m dash—1. Jonathan Melton, Hana, 11.31; 2. Jeremy Tabuyo, StL, 11.42; 3. Nick Kwon, MPI, 11.55; 4. Dade Apao, KS, 11.63; 5. Aaron Miyasaki, HBA, 11.70.

1500m run—1. Nikolai Scharer, Pun, 4:16.38; 2. Jac Hebert, Pun, 4:16.45; 3. David Clarke, Iol, 4:16.82; 4. Charles Akiona, KS, 4:20.13; 5. Samuel Choe, Iol, 4:28.34.

4x100m relay—1. Kamehameha A, 43.87; 2. Saint Louis A, 45.01; 3. Damien A, 45.05; 4. Punahou A, 45.35; 5. Iolani A, 46.61.

400m dash—1. Logan Ne, KS, 50.06; 2. Alec Dinsmore, Pun, 50.98; 3. Devon Terayama, Pun, 51.27; 4. Tim Kamana, Pun, 51.70; 5. Brandon Akiona, KS, 52.53.

300m hurdles—1. Griffin Saunders, Pun, 41.69; 2. Rory Pidot, MPI, 42.84; 3. Joseph Verghese, Pun, 43.07; 4. Adam Kodama, Iol, 43.32; 5. Adam Noga, StL, 43.37.

200m dash—1. Jonathan Melton, Han, 22.94; 2. Nick Kwon, MPI, 23.22; 3. Tim Kamana, Pun, 23.24; 4. Divon Parker, StL, 23.32; 5. Brandon Akiona, KS, 23.56.

800m run—1. Adan Overcash, Iol, 1:56.62; 2. Nikolai Spencer, Pun, 1:57.07; 3. Michael Chin, CA, 1:58.19; 4. Joshua Freitas, KS, 2:01.80; 5. Kelvin Abe, HBA, 2:03.86.

3000m run—1. Jac Hebert, Pun, 9:25.39; 2. Charles Akiona, KS, 9:25.95; 3. Sebastian Barahal, Pun, 9:29.92; 4. Davis Kaahanui, KS, 9:30.70; 5. Troy Esaki, Iol, 9:39.71.

4x400m relay—1. Punahou, 3:26.21; 2. Kamehameha, 3:27.36; 3. ‘Iolani, 3:30.66; 4. Mid-Pacific, 3:33.44.

GIRLS

Team standings—1. Punahou 167; 2. ‘Iolani 85; 3. Kamehameha 68; 4. Sacred Hearts 62; t5. Christian Academy 28; t5. Mid-Pacific 28; 7. Hawaii Baptist 25; 8. Pac-Five 20; 9. Island Pacific Academy 12.

Discus Throw—1. Hannah Sherrill, P5, 153-05; 2. Elizabeth Vaea, Iol, 121-10; 3. Kekahiliokalani Novikoff, KS, 120-03; 4. Emalata Maka, SHA, 112-03; 5. Raquel-Justice Simeona-Velez, KS, 107-06.

Shot Put—1. Hannah Sherrill, P5, 41-01.50; 2. Kekahiliokalani Novikoff, KS, 37-07; 3. Emalata Maka, SHA, 34-00.50; 4. Lindsey Mok, KS, 33-06.50; 5. Kayla Fanene, KS, 30-08.

Long Jump—1. Tori Houston, Pun, 17-06; 2. Kayla Kirk, SHA, 17-05.50; 3. Ashlee Asada, Iol, 16-09.50; 4. Christine Tsai, Pun, 16-09.25; 5. Marie Moriwake, MPI, 16-02.25.

Triple Jump—1. Christine Tsai, Pun, 36-06.50; 2. Carly Kan, Pun, 35-09.50; 3. Ashlee Asada, Iol, 35-08.50; 4. Marie Moriwake, MPI, 35-06.75; 5. Gabby Jamain, Pun, 34-00.

High Jump—1. Christine Tsai, Pun, 5-00; 2. Alyssa Endo, Pun, 4-10; 3. Lauren Levenson, HBA, J4-10; 4. Savannah Marrotte, KS, 4-08; T5. Joanna Christenson, KS, J4-08; T5. Cassidy Apo, KS, J4-08.

Pole Vault—1. Sammy Marumoto, Pun, 11-06; 2. Taylor-Ashley Moss, KS, 10-00; 3. Victoria Rooks, Pun, 9-06; T4. Tiana Kaneakua, KS, 9-00; T4. Sydney Forsyth, Pun, 9-00.

100m hurdles—1. Abrianna Johnson-Edwards, Iol, 15.20; 2. Amirah Majied, IPA, 15.84; 3. Gabby Jamain, Pun, 16.79; 4. Lindsey Combs, Iol, 17.53; 5. Puaena Pickard, KS, 17.58.

100m dash—1. Raion Black, CA, 12.55; 2. Tiffany Atud, SHA, 12.95; 3. Alexis Damo, SHA, 12.96; 4. Kanoelani Yadao, HBA, 13.20; 5. Kylie Chun, Pun, 13.40.

1500m run—1. Elli Brady, Pun, 4:56.24; 2. Madison Morse, MPI, 5:07.33; 3. Hallie Lam, Pun, 5:10.53; 4. Kai Hoshijo, KS, 5:13.65; 5. Katie Brady, Pun, 5:15.86.

4x100m relay—1. Punahou A, 50.08; 2. Iolani A, 51.08; 3. Sacred Hearts A, 51.21; 4. Kamehameha A, 53.16; 5. Mid-Pacific A, 54.17.

400m dash—1. Alexis Damo, SHA, 58.75; 2. Raion Black, CA, 58.77; 3. Alyssa Kim, Iol, 1:00.63; 4. Mackenzie Feldman, Pun, 1:00.91; 5. Kayla Bryan, Pun, 1:01.99.

300m hurdles—1. Abrianna Johnson-Edwards, Iol, 45.82; 2. Megan Herndon, Pun, 46.74; 3. Kanoelani Yadao, HBA, 46.94; 4. Amirah Majied, IPA, 47.12; 5. Lindsey Combs, Iol, 48.08.

800m run—1. Breanne Ball, Iol, 2:14.14; 2. Alice Liggett, MPI, 2:21.26; 3. Elli Brady, Pun, 2:22.43; 4. Monica Woolley, Pun, 2:23.93; 5. Liana Dollar, KS, 2:28.52.

200m dash—1. Raion Black, CA, 26.08; 2. Alexis Damo, SHA, 26.64; 3. Kanoelani Yadao, HBA, 26.84; 4. Kayla Kirk, SHA, 27.01; 5. Kylie Chun, Pun, 27.39.

3000m run—1. Melissa Wong, Pun, 10:52.49; 2. Noe Lum, Pun, 11:21.38; 3. Kai Hoshijo, KS, 11:34.96; 4. Jaime Durso, Pun, 11:51.83; 5. Elise Uyehara, HBA, 11:56.41.

4x400m relay—1. ‘Iolani, 4:01.25; 2. Punahou, 4:02.79; 3. Kamehameha, 4:17.92; 4. Mid-Pacific, 4:19.71; 5. Sacred Hearts, 4:19.97.