KAHULUI–The Kamehameha Schools Maui varsity track and field team had 17 athletes qualify last night in the wind and drizzle at War Memorial Stadium in the MIL Championship Trials.

“They’re a little more focused now… they can see that,” Head Coach Rudy Huber said. “They can score points not just here in MIL, but also the state. We have a shot to score a lot of points.”

Seniors Kiana-Lei Sniffen (7th) and Kiana Antonio (4th) and sophomore Taira Lucas (6th) advanced in the 100 meter dash.

Lucas is also advancing in 6th place overall in the 200 meter dash, and senior Rachel Smith advanced in the 400 meter dash (7th).

“There’s been a lot of improvement and a lot of work from everyone,” Smith said, “I know I’ve improved.” Smith has run on the cross country team, but this is her first year participating in track, and she said it was a really fun experience.

In the girls long jump, Sniffen and Quinn Williams advanced in 5th and 3rd place.

In the boys results, junior Jesse Amaral placed 4th in the 300 meter hurdles in a time of 43.56.

In the short distance foot races, Senior Avinash Singh (6th) and Sophomore Covy Cremer (8th) are in the 200 meter dash, and senior Iain Armitage (5th) and Singh (3rd, 51.86) are in the 400 meter dash.

And in the longer runs, sophomore Richard “Ikaika” Renaud is going into today’s competition in first place in the 1,500 meter and 8th in the 800 meter run.

The front runner from among the boys throwers is senior Kauanoe Vanderpoel, who placed 1^st in discus throw, with a distance of 156-09.00, and shot put with with a distance of 53-08.50.

Junior Jonah Logotala is also advancing in discus, tied at 6^th with Maui High’s Arvenjae Lacaden, both throwing for 115-11.00.

Seniors Quinn Kihune (3rd) and Caleb Kaaukai (4th) will also be competing in shot put.

Junior Colton Cabanas is advancing in 3^rd place in the long jump with his distance of 19-06.75, and three Warriors will be competing in the triple jump. Armitage was in the lead yesterday with a jump of 42-03.00, and he will be joined by senior Erin Lindsey (7th) and junior Chase Newton (8th).

“It’s a… better year. Although it’s a smaller crew, we should score a lot more points than we did before,” Coach Huber said, “I think the kids are learning the routine and we’re getting more kids that have heart come out.” This is Coach Huber’s second year with Kamehameha Schools Maui.

The varsity track and field finals begin today at 4 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Photo by Destinee Murray

Senior Kiana Antonio placed 4th in her heat of the 200 meter dash, and 9th overall.