Track and field marks
in danger of falling

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Some of the luminaries in last month's record-breaking Hawaii High School Athletic Association Track and Field Meet will compete in the Aloha State Games' meet June 14-15 at Kaiser High School.

The question is, will they be challenged?

The games comprise 43 events over a one-week period of competition that runs through June 15.

Castle High School's Bryan Clay, who captured the 110-meter hurdles and the 100- and 200-meter dashes, is planning to shoot for the Aloha State Games men's open 100-meter dash title.

Clay, a junior, might find the Big Island's Casey Flores, 1996 multiple state champion and state meet record holder, in a lane next to him. Flores is a junior college freshman.

Yet another former state 100-meter champion, Jumanne Washington, could also be there as well as former Interscholastic League of Honolulu dash champion John Van Horn.

Two girls from Punahou's record-breaking 4x400-meter relay team will compete: Victoria Chang and Eri Macdonald.

Chang, a freshman, is the state 1,600- and 3,200-meter champion while Macdonald, a sophomore, is the two-time state cross-country champion.

The team that won the Hawaii's Fastest Human 4x100 relay at the Punahou Relays -- David Mayeda, Johann Bouit, Mike Nakagawa, and Washington -- also is due to compete.

Track and field coordinator Jack Karbens said there are 280 participants expected at the Kaiser oval. He said the deadline has passed and no more entries will be taken.

In basketball, some members of the state champion Punahou girls' team and the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion McKinley girls' squad also might be competing.

Basketball opens tomorrow at the Kaimuki Recreation Center with the 30-and-over division and continues next Wednesday through June 15 with the novice, recreational, 14-17 and "Top Gun" divisions.

Among the more unusual events in this year's Aloha State Games are dog obedience and ballroom dance.

Marcia Klompus, one of the coordinators of the games, said last night the dogs will get medals, along with their owners, this year. She said that holds true for the horses in equestrian.

"We had to do this because we had complaints from the animals," said Klompus. "I had a letter from one of the dogs, who was -- excuse the pun -- ticked off."

Klompus, who takes a special interest in the dog event and enjoys the ribbing she receives about it every year, said it will be held June 14-15 at Crane Community Park.

"You must have a dog to enter," said Klompus. "We've already had two people who tried to enter a pig."

Games begin

The eighth annual Aloha State Games are set to begin today with a record number of participants.

Organizers expect more than 7,500 athletes to compete in 54 events. Walk-up registration will be allowed in 38 events, with cash payment only.

There are two new events this year: box car racing and STREND, a strength and endurance competition.

The games kick off today at 3 p.m. with the torch run, which will start inside Diamond Head Crater and end at the King Kamehameha statue for lei draping ceremonies.

The torch run will continue in Waikiki tomorrow and through downtown on Wednesday.

Opening ceremonies will be held at the Honolulu Hale Civic Lawn Wednesday and will include live entertainment and the lighting of the opening torch by Joe Onosai.