Track & field jump starts season
Photo by Kimani Fernandez-Roy
Freshman Kahiau Bonacarsi leaps over a hurdle on her way to finishing 3rd in the girls 100-meter high hurdles. The first meet of the 2016-2017 MIL season took place yesterday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium. Many new and old athletes competed and cheered as they watched their fellow teammates compete as well.
Kahului–The Maui Interscholastic League track and field 2016-2017 season began last night with Meet #1 at War Memorial Stadium.
With more than double last year’s amount of athletes the Kamehameha Maui Warriors are looking forward to having an exciting and successful season.
One newcomer is freshman Samuel Ostermiller, who cleared 5′ in the boys high jump and substituted for junior Damon Martin in the boys 4 x 1 relay.
Returning junior Kayla Tuitele, who last year was tied for 10th in the MIL for the 100-meter race, took second in her heat.
“We’re going to keep on working, so we can get you better and better,” head coach Rudy Huber said to freshman Kahiau Bonacarsi after her 100-meter high hurdles race, and he expressed similar sentiments to other members of the team after their events.
Another new addition this year is pole vaulting coach Profe Linden Wada, who was a pole vaulting champion in high school Now, the Warriors are an even greater threat in the area.
Prior to coaching at Kamehameha, Coach Wada coached at Baldwin High School where he helped Kainoa Tom pole vault a height of 15′ 6″, three inches above the state record.
Senior Quinn Hottendorf in his second year pole vaulting, already exceeded his personal best of 12′ 6″ from last year in last night’s meet.
The Warriors have taken a step in the right direction; however, they still have much to do to catch up with Baldwin High School’s strong force.
With returning 100-meter high hurdle and long jump champion Kaitlin Smith as well as two athletes jumping 6′ in the high jump for the Bears, the Warriors have some practicing to do.
The Warriors are also hoping to go back to the state championship this year, especially in the girls 4 x 1 relay team, who placed sixth in the state last year.
