Sports Update
Defending champs aboard at Molokai
The four record-setting winners from 1997 are back to defend their titles in Sunday's 21st annual Starbucks Molokai Challenge.The 32-mile crossing of the Kaiwi (Molokai) Channel from the west end of Molokai to Koko Marina in Hawaii Kai is the World Championship of blue water kayak (also known as a surfski) racing.
The first finishers are expected to arrive around 12:30 p.m., depending on conditions.
Australia's Mark Gardiner and Oahu's Kelly Fey won the men's and women's kayak races, respectively, in 1997. The solo outrigger canoe titles went to Oahu racers Matt Rigg and Donna Kahakui.
"We've been watching the weather. It should be pretty stable. That would really excite the paddlers," race director Darryl Hara said. "It would be conducive to a really fast time. The tide is rising and will push them closer to Oahu."
The 33-year-old Gardiner, a five-time winner, says he hopes for good trades and a south swell.
"When you finally get around Portlock Point, you can ride the south swell that last mile and a half to the finish line. That's the worst part of the race.
"Every race is different. I've won in five hours and 3:21.26 (1997's record time). It all depends on the conditions and the competition, especially the younger guys."
Gardiner's fellow Australians always provide tough competition. The top local kayak paddlers include Nalu Kukea, Wyatt Jones and Kala Judd.
Fey's competition is expected to come from Tahiti's Nicole Montel and Australia's Jasmin Kelly.
"Every year it's the same. I'm nervous and scared at the starting line," Fey, 37, said. "Then, about 20 minutes into the channel, you calm down and start having fun."
She will be shooting for her fifth consecutive victory.
Kalaheo overcomes McKinley, 44-33, for girls' OIA title
It was an untypical night for a Kalaheo High girls' basketball team whose trademark in 1998 has been dominance.The Lady Mustangs, who have buried every OIA opponent, including McKinley, by 20, 30 or 40 points this season, found it impossible to do that to the Lady Tigers Friday night at the Blaisdell Arena.
They actually struggled a bit. But it wasn't anything a good shot of Brandy couldn't cure.
Brandy Richardson, a 6-foot freshman forward, scored 14 points, grabbed 11 rebounds (eight defensively), made seven steals and blocked four shots as Kalaheo finally pulled away from McKinley, 44-33, to end the Lady Tigers' three-year Oahu Interscholastic Association championship reign.
It is the first girls' OIA basketball title for Kalaheo since 1978, and the team's 25th straight win this year.
It was also the first time McKinley has lost in its last 14 OIA playoff games. The playoff streak dated back to a loss to Moanalua in 1994.
Kalaheo lost a 44-35 decision to McKinley in last year's league title game on the same neutral court.
Waipahu 27, Kahuku 22: At Blaisdell, the Marauders rallied from a 22-19 fourth-quarter deficit as Narita Meana made four free throws in the quarter. Waipahu (10-3) finishes third in the playoffs and Kahuku (9-3) fourth.
These teams and Nanakuli (10-3) qualify for the state basketball tournament which opens Tuesday at the Stan Sheriff Center.