Kamehameha’s Moku sets pace in hurdles at the ILH track and field championships

Tanner Moku was just as flabbergasted as everyone else at Kamehameha’s Kunuiakea Stadium on Saturday.

In the 300 hurdles at the ILH track and field championships, the Kamehameha junior catapulted into some special territory in Hawaii high school history. Moku ran the event in 37.99 seconds to not only set the meet mark, but also surpass Dana Navarro-Arias’ 38.10 for Maui High in 1999, which still stands as the state-meet record.

“That was unexpected for me, man,” said Moku, who also won the 110 hurdles in 14.69 on Saturday. “I had never run a 38 before, so for me to drop a 37, that’s crazy for me. I didn’t believe it when they announced it.”

The winning performance served notice that the hurdles don’t necessarily belong to Baldwin’s Rey Cadiz at next month’s states. Cadiz won both the 110 and 300 at last year’s states and had the best 300 time in Hawaii (39.49) this season before Saturday.

“I tried to make a move early,” Moku added. “Chris Paige of Punahou (who finished second in 38.92) was my competition. I had a lot of adrenaline in the first 100, so I was thinking as long as I can keep this guy close to me and keep ahead a little and maintain that the rest of the race, I can come out on top.”

Another ILH championship record — the 4×100 relay — bit the dust Saturday, when Saint Louis’ foursome of Roman Wilson, Keanu Wallace, Korvin Feagins and Keola Yadao ran a 42.11. Next month, that Crusaders unit will take a shot at upending the state-meet mark of 42.18 set last year by Punahou.

“This record means a lot to me,” Wilson said. “And to the whole Saint Louis community and alumni. People at our school are very proud of what we do, putting our names in the history book.”

Wilson also won the 100-yard dash (10.99), with Yadao taking second, Wallace fourth and Feagins fifth. Wilson is working on getting the better of Seabury Hall’s Noah Payne, who ran a 10.70 last month, at states. Yadao captured the ILH 200 (22.38) title and Feagins took the high jump (6 feet, 3 inches).

Team-wise, Punahou and Kamehameha placed first and second in both boys and girls competition.

Two athletes — Punahou’s Maiya Fujiwara (4:47.47 in the 1,500) and Damien’s Zada Tagovailoa (125-10.5 in the discus) — came through with the best Hawaii marks of 2019 so far.

“The competitors came out really fast and I’m better at following, and we’ve been working on speed a lot during practice, so it helped me in the last lap,” said Fujiwara, who also won the 800 meters (2:20.85) and was part of the winning 4×400 squad (4:07.41, a Hawaii best for 2019).

Perseverance helped Tagovailoa because poor throws early almost kept her out of the finals.

“I was at 85 (feet), and I was like, ‘I don’t throw that,’ ” she said. “But I came out in the finals and threw my 125. I’m aiming for 130 for states.”

Hanalani’s Adam Harder, the reigning state cross country champion, won the 1,500 (4:18.60) and the 3,000 (9:39.01).