When records previously owned by a college football All-American, a Major League Baseball all-star and an Olympic decathlon gold medalist are broken at a high school track and field meet, you are in the presence of some pretty special talent.
But probably not for long. Anthony Kahoohanohano-Davis moves just as fast transiting from event-to-event as he does while producing gold medals.
After the Baldwin star broke Bryan Clay’s record in the long jump and the awards were being distributed, he’d already hustled over to the Kunuiakea high jump pit — one of his five events at Saturday’s state meet finals. He won all three jumps, also breaking the triple jump mark of Larry Khan-Smith, who was last seen by University of Hawaii football fans returning kickoffs for touchdowns in the 1980s.
Kahoohanohano also anchored the Bears’ winning 4×100 relay team and was third in the 110 hurdles. Two of his jumps are at least temporarily the best in the nation.
But record-breaking performances in track are like slam dunks in basketball — they’re fun and exciting, but they’re not worth any extra points for the team.
Baldwin lacked the depth of Kamehameha, and the host Warriors — with competitors in every event except the 400 and 800 meter runs — won the state meet for the third time in four years and first under new head coach Steve Jenness.
Kamehameha sprinter Justin Desaki got the other record of an all-time great Hawaii athlete, breaking Shane Victorino’s mark in the 100 meters in the trials with a 10.75.
Traditionally, the 4×400 was Kamehameha’s signature event, making for many thrilling conclusions to meets. In recent years, the second-to-last race, the 3,000 meters, has served as the closer. That’s because Kaeo Kruse established himself as the best ever at that distance.
Punahou girls coach Duncan Macdonald and Jenness, the Warriors’ longtime boys cross country coach and distance assistant, were two of the state’s greatest high school distance runners, ever. They — and anyone else you ask — will tell you Kruse, who has run 3,000 meters in 9:11 and won it at the state meet three times, stands alone as the finest in the longest race.
Not Kruse himself though. He’d rather talk about the team. Every time.
Unless, that is, he’s sharing words of respect for an opponent who managed to stay with him a couple of laps.
“Props to Avery (Torres of Kalaheo) for making that challenging,” Kruse said after winning the state 3,000 for the third time and sealing the team win, yet again. “He has a great future.”
So does Kruse.
He’s gone under 4:00 in the 1,500, and he’s over 4.00 in the classroom. He’s off to Harvard, where he will run cross country and track.
“Leadership-wise, doing what you want him to do, bringing guys up with him,” Jenness said, in recounting what he will miss. “But he’s ready to move on, I can see it in him.”
Kaeo Kruse didn’t break any records Saturday. But he did his job, winning both of his races, so he and his teammates could accomplish what they’d set out to do — again, for the third time in four years.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads
