The key to success, Nainoa Soto-Thompson says, is as basic as a balanced diet.
Minutes after Soto-Thompson and his teammates helped Campbell break the boys 4×100 meter relay record at the Cal Track/Ruby Tuesday Hawaii Invitational track meet, he summed it up.
"You’ve got to eat your vegetables," he said. "Collard greens."
The Sabers completed the race in 43.3 seconds, leading a field of 10 teams that included Kaiser (43.6) and Punahou (44.6). Campbell’s 4×100 crew included Corey Cooper, Anthony Pablo and Terell Johnson.
Campbell’s girls 4×100 did no less, breaking a meet mark with a time of 48.6 seconds, outpacing Kaiser (49.3), Kamehameha (49.9) and Punahou (50.8). The Sabers girls were Diane Iosua, Kameron Smith, Jade Savaiigaea and Tristen Dulay.
"Today’s passing (of the baton) was awesome," Campbell coach Wyatt Tau said.
Roughly 20 of Campbell’s 75 track and field athletes competed. They had a turnout of 150 to start preseason before whittling down the roster. With the school track and field under renovation, the Sabers have made do.
"We’ve gone to Mililani and Waipahu to practice. Whatever other schools offer, we’re very appreciative. We’ve got nothing," Tau said.
Experience for both 4×100 crews made the difference.
"The only time we get to really practice the passing is when we get to the meet," Tau said.
Tiny Anchorage Christian School (Alaska) brought firepower with Tanner Ealum, who won the girls 100 (12.52), 200 (24.8) and 400 (55.8) dashes with meet-record times. She won all three events in last year’s Alaska 3A state meet.
Ealum was named the meet’s most outstanding female athlete.
"It’s very hard to adjust to the weather, but we’ve been here since Monday training," Ealum said.
Kaeo Kruse, Kamehameha’s top long-distance runner, was named the most outstanding male athlete. Kruse placed first in the 3,000 run (9:11) and 1,500 (4.10.24). The morning showers gave way to a blistering sun by the time Kruse ran his events.
"There was a big temperature change," Kruse said.
He got a nice challenge in the 1,500 from Punahou’s Connor Lehl (4:11.21), a 6-2 sophomore with a mighty kick.
Lehl, Kruse said, has made a significant improvement since his freshman year. Lehl uses the competition as motivational fuel.
"He’s insane. He got the runner-up as a sophomore in cross country and ended setting the 3,000-meter record in track and field, and now I’m competing against him, hoping to get some good times," Lehl said. "I don’t know if he has any weaknesses. He beat me in that last 200 (meters). I didn’t know he had that kind of speed."
Teri Brady of Punahou led the girls 1,500 run with a time of 4:55.30, edging Taryn Ceglowski of Anchorage Christian (4:57.68).
Anchorage Christian also had a winner in Michael Todd, who captured the boys 400 dash in 50.52. He edged Kapolei’s young phenom, 6-2 Trey Johnson (50.6).
Other meet records set on Saturday include a 4:07.6 by Kaiser’s 4×400 girls relay team: Celine Lum, Teuila Gardner, Tommi Hintnaus and Kristen O’Handley.
The next closest quartet was Campbell (4:20.8). From a distance, the blue-and-yellow clad Lady Cougars looked more like a typical Punahou relay team, opening up an 80-yard lead on the final lap.
"We kind of knew we were going to give it our all, but I guess we’re surprised by our performance," said Lum, a senior.
"We have the same relay team as last year," Gardner added. "We’re definitely thinking about the next step. It’s all based on teamwork."
They’re hungry in part because Lum suffered an injury last year.
"We want to give the big schools a run for their money," added Gardner, a senior.
More meet record breakers:
» Alema Kapoi, Kamehameha: boys shot put, 51-09.
» Michael Jones-Quering, Aiea: boys triple jump, 44-10.5.
» Mario Kaluhiokalani, Kamehameha: boys 110 hurdles, 15.41; 300 hurdles, 40:43.
» Keoni-Kordell Makekau, ‘Iolani: boys 100 dash, 11:19.
» Punahou: boys 4×400 relay, 3:28.2.
