Kahoohanohano Davis jumps into record books

Hawai’i State Championship Track & Field Meet Highlights

By Ian Tsang for DyeStat

Among some of the early state meets over the weekend, one took place in a more remote, but no less important, part of the country. On May 6-7, Hawai’i held its track and field championships. 

The trials weather was comfortable and the wind was not a factor. However, the finals were ravaged by strong winds. The state championships took place at Kamehameha Kapalama on the island of Oahu, which frequently gets affected by harsh conditions. However even with these disadvantages all athletes still made the best of it and performed to their highest capability.

- Baldwin High School standout Anthony Kahoohanohano Davis (photo above by Kristi Echiverri) continued his undefeated season with gold medals in the high jump, triple jump, and long jump as well as bronze in the 110-meter hurdles. Throughout the season Anthony has broken numerous Maui and state records as well. This weekend he catapulted himself to the top ten in the nation (7th to be exact) with a jump of 49-10.75 in the trials, breaking a 30-year old all-time Hawai'i record on the books since 1986. Following suit, two of his teammates, Chayse Tamaki and Jocel Aquino, came in second and fourth with jumps of 45-10.50 and 45-0, respectively. Later on he also won the long jump with a jump of 24-10, the longest jump in islands history, surpassing Olympian Bryan Clay's mark of 24-6.50 in 1998. In the high jump, Davis missed the record by one inch with a jump of 6-8, while in the 110m hurdles despite repeatedly knocking down hurdles he won bronze with a time of 15.07.

- The girls discus throw was won by Maia Graham of Iolani in 122-7. And on the boys side it was won by Wesley Faagau of Kamehameha Kapalama in 160-8.

- The girls shot put was won by Bradina Anae with a throw of 38-6. And Alema Kapoi of Kamehameha Kapalama was the boys winner with 54-1.50.

- In the girls long jump, Kayla Afoa of Kamehameha Kapalama won with a jump of 18-5. Second place was nearly a foot behind with a jump of 17-7.25 by Nicole Cristobal of Kealakehe.

- Kadara Marshall of Waiakea won the girls triple jump with a 37-6.50. Earlier in the night she came third in the long jump with 17-05.25. Due to this success she is now the first female athlete ever from her school to win a state championship title.

“I’m really grateful to have taken home a title as the first female athlete from Waiakea to win a state event, and to have won it for my jumping coach who's really the best!”

- Kaui Taylor of Hawai’i Preparatory Academy won the high jump at 5-4.

- Jessica Lee of Iolani won the girls pole vault with a vault of 10-9. For the boy’s pole vault,  William Ewaliko won, clearing 14-3.

- In the girls 100-meter hurdles Emma Taylor of Hawaii Preparatory Academy defended her title with a time of 14.75 for a tight finish with second place Saydee Aganus of Kamehameha Hawai’i, who clocked 14.76.

- In the 110 hurdles Tre Evans Dumaran was the only athlete to break 15 seconds. He ran 14.75 and created a large gap over the field. The next two hurdlers were Kamal Golaube (15.06) and Anthony Kahoohanohano Davis (15.07).

- Kristen O’Handley of Kaiser won the girls 100-meter dash in 12.75 seconds.

- In the boys 100, the defending champion, Bailey Kaopuiki, suffered from a cramp mid-race and ran his slowest race of the year, crossing the finish line third in 11.66. The winner was Grey Ihu in 11.58, followed by Justin Desaki in 11.58. They ran into a strong headwind. 

- In the boys 1,500, state record holder Kaeo Kruse ran 4:01.53, leading the race start to finish and edging out Connor Lehl (4:06.84) and the defending champion Louie Ondo (4:06.96). Kruse missed the meet record by three-tenths of a second but established himself back on top after last year’s sprint finish where Ondo took the gold. The race started out in Louie’s favor as he took it out from that start and gained the distance that he needed to win, but the strong winds prevented him from keeping the lead. By the second lap Kaeo had already reeled him in.

- In the girls 1,500, defending champion Ava Shipman was beaten in the last 100 by Phoebe Kirk. This race was played more strategically and differently than the boys, because none of the fastest runners in the field chose to lead until the last lap. For the first half of the race it appeared as if the rest of the girls were trapping Shipman inside while Kirk waited for her chance to strike from 600 out. When it came time, Kirk took the lead and broke away from the field, gaining distance while Shipman attempted to follow. By 200 to go, both were nearly 30 meters ahead and sprinting for the finish. It became a matter of who was able to push through the wind, and the pain, as Kirk won in 4:54.61. over Shipman’s 4:54.80.

- Punahou came away with the win in the girls 4x100 relay with a time of 50.64.

- The boys 4x100 relay was won by Baldwin High School in 43.43.

- In the girls 400 Maya Reynolds from Kihei Charter defended her title with a time of 58.42.

- In the boys 400, Thomas Reid lll led from start to finish and took away the title in 51.05. The night before at trials he ran a faster time of 50.06.

- Emma Taylor of Hawaii Preparatory Academy defended her title in the 300 hurdles and doubled back from her win in the 100m hurdles with a time of 45.82.

- Jonah Jessop of Campbell High School won the boys 300 hurdles with a time of 39.02.

- The girls 800 saw Phoebe Kirk of Sacred Hearts Academy pull of a double as she came through the line in 2:18.15.

- In the boys 800 Louie Ondo took the race out from the start as he had done the night before in the trials. Seeing the race as redemption, he out kicked Connor Lehl who beat him earlier in the 1500 to win with a season’s best of 1:58.67 to Lehl’s 1:59.23.

- Both of the 200-meter finals were won by the same sprinters who took the 100s. Kristen O’Handley of Kaiser ran 27.18. Grey Ihu clocked 22.88 for his victory.

- Jordan Jones of St. Andrews was the girls 3,000 winner and the only girl to break 11 minutes in the race. She played the race smart, spending the first half of the race drafting off the leaders until about seven minutes in, when she took the lead and ran away from the rest of her competition. The next three minutes were all front running for Jones. When it came time for her sprint home it was clear that no one would challenge her, and she had already won. Jones crossed the finish line in 10:57.25, four seconds ahead of the next finisher who crossed in 11:01.26.

- Kaeo Kruse of Kamehameha Schools Kapalama won the boys 3,000 in 9:05.85. Kruse and Avery Torres or Kalaheo spent the majority of the race ahead of the chase pack. Torres tried to kick from 400 out but lost the lead at the 200 mark where Kruse’s leg speed picked up and he gained some 20 meters in the final straightaway. Torres crossed the finish line seven seconds behind in 9:12.97.

When asked about the race Avery Torres said: “I’m just happy I gave it my all and  was able to stay with Kaeo for so long. Since it was his last race I just wanted to make it challenge for him. This last race really meant a lot to me since I got to run with him, we may not be from the same school but he’s like family to me. He’s so humble and has taught me so much so I’ll never forget him!”

For Kruse, it was another gold for his collection, and his third 3,000 state title. This is the second time the state championships were held on his home track, the last being in 2014. “I do believe running the championships on my home track have helped me win these past two times. Obviously there’s expectation that you're going to do well when running at your home, but I just wanted to do well and hopefully bring home the gold,” said Kruse.

- Kaiser High won the girls 4x400 relay in 4:10.40. For the boys race Radford won in 3:27.49, anchored by Thomas Reid lll, the 400-meter champion. 

- In addition to the usual events that all states have, Hawai’i also runs the 4x100 and 4x400 for the Unified Special Olympics (mixed gender teams). The purpose of these relays is not to win, but to emphasize the importance of exercise and teamwork to kids with disabilities. Each team usually consists of two boys and two girls, only two of which have special needs. The winner of the 4x100 was Farrington with a time of 55.64, and the winner of the 4x400 relay was also from Farrington (4:36.43).

- The overall team winners for the meet for the girls were Hawaii Preparatory Academy with 57 points. And for the boys the winner was Kamehameha Kapalama with 78 points.