By the end of this evening, Jeremy Kamaka'ala will have run nearly 6 miles in two days. Not that big a deal, you say, especially for a well-conditioned high school athlete.
But Kamaka'ala and many others at the Island Movers/Hawaii High School Athletic Association state track and field championships are being asked to do what they haven't before -- perform at their best in the biggest meet of the year without a day between trials and finals.
"I'm not going to treat it any differently, I'm going to treat it the same," said Kamaka'ala, the defending state champion in the 3,000 who qualified second in the 1,500 in 4 minutes, 23.78 seconds to Punahou's Peter Deptula, who ran 4:19.09.
Kamaka'ala qualified in the 3,000 with a 9:41.26, and minus the drama of Keoni Ucker of Christian Liberty on the Big Island. Ucker qualified first in 9:36.45 despite kicking off a loose shoe on the fifth lap.
"It sucks because I don't know how I'll be able to do tomorrow," said Ucker, who ran nearly half the race with just a sock on his left foot.
While damage to the bottom of Ucker's foot might affect an individual championship, the ability of Kamaka'ala and Deptula to recover quickly could determine the team title in today's finals.
"The kids are being asked to do a lot," Kamehameha distance coach Steve Jenness said. "But Jeremy and the rest of them are tough and they see it as a challenge."
Deptula also ran a 2:01.34 to post the best 800 meters on a hot afternoon at Kamehameha's track, and anchored the Buffanblu's qualifying 4x400 relay team. He said he's run hard on consecutive days during practice in anticipation of this meet.
"Today I definitely didn't go out as hard as I normally would -- you have to conserve a little," said Deptula, the defending champion in the 800. "But I think going back-to-back days is better for me. I've definitely been training the last few weeks to prepare."
Kahuku's Redmond Tutor, who has a chance for six gold medals today, was wobbly at the end of his winning 300 hurdles heat. A day off for him might have helped the Red Raiders' hopes for a first state title.
"The sun drains you a little," said Tutor, who was held out of the 4x100 relay yesterday. "But this is no time for excuses, this is states."
Tutor ended yesterday with the best marks in the long jump (22 feet, 5 inches) and both hurdles (14.81 and 40.48). In the triple jump, his 45-9 1/2 was second to the 46-1 by Damien's Kealoha Pilares. Tutor also anchored Kahuku's 4x400 relay team, which qualified second behind Kamehameha.
In the sprints, Hawaii Prep junior Thato Nthite stood out. He was fastest in the 100 (11.18), and second in the 200 with 22.50 to Mililani's A.J. Clark's posting of 22.39. Nthite also anchored HPA's 4x100 relay team, which ran 43.27 to tie with Kahuku for fastest in the trials.
Ka Makani are running hard for retiring coach Harold Frobisher, Nthite said.
"We're trying to say goodbye in a good way," he said.
Frobisher said Nthite's times will get better as he improves his technique in the blocks.
"He has the slowest start I've ever seen, but his top-end speed is good," Frobisher said. "He's unbeaten on the Big Island. He's never really had the competition there."
The Waimea boys 4x100 relay team, state champions the past two years with the meet record last year, lost their chance for three in a row when Lane Fernandez and Troy Yamase botched the final pass.
"It would've been a great dream for three years in a row," Waimea coach Dave Walker said. "They just didn't quite pull it off."
Yamase, who had the state's best time in the 100 coming in, scratched from that event to save his tender hamstring for the relay.
"Troy tweaked it playing baseball running the bases and in practice he was protecting it, but he looked good today," Walker said.
In the girls meet, Baldwin's June Ann Lusk qualified first in the 100 hurdles (15.79) and the 100-meter dash (12.74) and fourth in the 200 (26.33). She will likely run in both relays today as Baldwin tries to upend defending and 28-time state champion Punahou.
"We don't have a day of rest, so we have to be conservative. But tomorrow, full-force," Lusk said after the hurdles.
Baldwin got a boost from Nete Tolutau, who led the shot (38-4 3/4) and was second in the discus (133-8). Her heated competition with Word of Life's Careena Onosai, defending champion in both, continues today. Onosai led the discus with 147-2 and was second in the shot with 37-11 1/2.
The Buffanblu were in strong position at the end of the day. They'll be heavily represented in the jumping events, with triple-jumper Samantha Cabreros turning in a 38-2 1/2 hop, skip and jump unlikely to be bettered by anyone but herself.
Although his team's points will be spread out among an army of athletes, Punahou girls coach Duncan Macdonald favors having a day off between trials and finals.
"I think it's much better for the kids when they have a day of rest," said Macdonald, who coached the Buffanblu distance girls when they won states at a compressed meet in 2001, caused by the teachers' strike.
A two-day meet -- enacted at last year's state athletic directors meetings -- instead of three saves travel expenses and is in line with most other states.
"There's going to be some hurtin' people out there (today)," Macdonald said. "I think there's a possibility of somebody getting hurt. It's nice to recharge the muscles.
"We had a lot of people pulling up (with injuries in 2001)," he added.
State Track Finals Qualifiers
Varsity boys
Discus--1. Kainoa Pea, Hilo, 173-06; 2. Sosaia Vaitai, Waianae, 159-04; 3. Bryon Beatty, Kahuku, 151-01; t4. Thomas Salek, Baldwin, 143-10; t4. Walter Kahaiali'i Kamehameha-Maui, 143-10; 6. Brian Mitsunaga, Iolani, 143-03; 7. Nathaniel Langi, Kapaa, 143-02; 8. Lolomana Mikaele, Damien, 138-02.
Shot put--1. Ian Dulan, Kamehameha-Hawaii, 53-05.25; 2. Thomas Salek, Baldwin, 50-02.2.5; 3. Drew Uperesa, Punahou, 49-06.75; 4. Aaron Watson, Nanakuli, 48-10.00; 5. Sione Tau, Damien, 48-02.25; 6. Lolomana Mikaele, Damien, 47-11.75; 7. Steven Rodenhurst, Kamehameha, 47-02.75; 8. Kapono Rawlins-Crivello, Kamehameha, J47-02.75.
Long jump--1. Redmond Tutor, Kahuku, 22-05.00; 2. Dillon Domingo, Honokaa, 22-02.75; 3. Reece Alnas, Kamehameha-Hawaii, 21-11.75; 4. Brandon Hardin, Kamehameha, 21-11.25; 5. Kealoha Pilares, Damien, 21-11.00; 6. Dave Lopez, Waialua, J21-11.00; 7. D'Andre Benjamin, Mililani, 21-07.00; 8. Robert Fukuhara, Roosevelt, J21-07.00.
110 hurdles--1. Redmond Tutor, Kahuku, 14.81; 2. Deryck Lim, Punahou, 15.73; 3. D'Andre, Benjamin, Mililani, 15.35; 4. Arthur Bridenstine, Kahuku, 15.86; 5. Isaac Gomes, Roosevelt, 15.63; 6. Kawika Baugher, Baldwin, 16.04; 7. Micah Gibson, Kailua, 15.72; 8. Preston Ayala, Waianae, 15.77.
100 meter dash--1. Thato Nthite, Hawaii Prep, 11.18; 2. AJ Clark, Mililani, 11.35; 3. Kenny Estes, Waimea, 11.40; 4. Paea Keawekane, Kamehameha-Maui, 11.31; 5. Willie Haile, Kalaheo, 11.46; 6. Suaesi Tuimaunei, Kahuku, 11.53; 7. Noah Wong, Kamehameha, 11.43; 8. Chris-Gilbert Cutkelvin, Word of Life, 11.45.
1,500 meter run--1. Peter Deptula, Punahou, 4:19.09; 2. Jeremy Kamakaala, Kamehameha, 4:23.78; 3. Patrick Stover, Konawaena, 4:19.32; 4. Morgan Stephenson, Iolani, 4:25.19; 5. Keoni Ucker, Christian Liberty, 4:21.29; 6. Casey Nishimura, Mid-Pacific, 4:26.73; 7. Matthew Kodama, Castle, 4:24.00; 8. Preston Vierra, Honokaa, 4:24.18.
400 meter dash--1. Kinohi Warrington, Kamehameha, 50.29; 2. Collin Saxby, Hawaii Prep, 50.79; 3. Parrish Brito, Kamehameha, 51.20; 4. Jesse Henderson, King Kekaulike, 50.55; 5. Chris-Gilbert Cutkelvin, Word of Life, 50.95; 6. Matt Orvis, Kealakehe, 51.21; 7. Joseph Naholowa'a, Campbell, 51.02; 8. Mitchell Crim, Maui, 51.45.
300 meter hurdles--1. Redmond Tutor, Kahuku, 40.48; 2. D'Andre Benjamin, Mililani, 40.69; 3. Isaac Gomes, Roosevelt, 40.72; 4. Michael Yee, Punahou, 41.73; 5. Matthew Quitiquit, Hawaii Prep, 40.82; 6. Deryck Lim, Punahou, 42.13; 7. Ethan Rista, Castle, 41.02; 8. Jack Flemming, Waipahu, 42.36.
800 meter run--1. Peter Deptula, Punahou, 2:01.34; 2. Patrick Stover, Konawaena, 2:01.58; 3. Joey Amescua, Baldwin, 2:01.83; 4. Dennis Swart, Kaiser, 2:02.03; 5. John Otaguro, Roosevelt, 2:02.33; 6. Kyle Pidot, Kamehameha, 2:02.63; 7. Jess Moniz, Kamehameha, 2:02.83; 8. Casey Nishimura, Mid-Pacific, 2:03.27.
High jump--t1. Chris Newcomb, Waimea; Hudson Taylor, Word of Life; Riley Castillo, Kamehameha; Travis Wong, Kamehameha-Maui; Jeremy Hayes, Radford; Holden Ching, Hawaii Prep; Michael West, Moanalua; Aukai Lai, Waianae; Beau Brown, St. Anthony; Dillon Domingo, Honokaa; Reece Alnas, Kamehameha-Hawaii; Kamaka Camarillo, Kamehameha-Maui; Daniel Kalai, Kamehameha-Hawaii; Matthew Endo, Iolani; Keahi Raikes, Kamehameha-Maui, 5-10.00.
Pole vault--t1. Ryan Terao, Punahou; Luong Ly, Hilo; Erik Rasmussen, St. Anthony; William Pua'a, Maui; John-Michael Delima, Baldwin; Steven Bolosan-Shenn, Moanalua; Rock Trostel, Maui; Colby Takeda, Iolani; Gordon Cox, Waipahu; Kevin Guard, Kamehameha, 12-00.00.
4x100 relay--1. Kahuku, 43.27; 2. Hawaii Prep, 43.27; 3. Kamehameha, 43.53; 4. Punahou, 43.55; 5. Radford, 44.16; 6. Word of Life, 44.82; 7. Kamehameha-Maui, 44.52; 8. Saint Louis, 44.95.
200 meter dash--1. AJ Clark, Mililani, 22.39; 2. Thato Nthite, Hawaii Prep, 22.50; 3. Kinohi Warrington, Kamehameha, 22.56; 4. Paea Keawekane, Kamehameha-Maui, 22.69; 5. Jesse Henderson, King Kekaulike, 22.93; 6. Kenny Estes, Waimea; 23.17; 7. Suaesi Tuimaunei, Kahuku, 22.94; 8. Nicholas Inferrera, Saint Louis, 22.96.
3,000 meter run--1. Keoni Ucker, Christian Liberty, 9:36.45; 2. Stefano Barbis, Hilo, 9:40.99; 3. Morgan Stephenson, Iolani, 9:37.14; 4. Jeremy Kamakaala, Kamehameha, 9:41.27; 5. Nathan Martin, Waimea, 9:39.63; 6. Kon Weber, Iolani, 9:41.69; 7. Kensuke Taylor, Kailua, 9:41.63; 8. Travis Larsen-Helbing, Honokaa, 9:44,77.
Triple jump--1. Kealoha Pilares, Damien, 46-01.00; 2. Redmond Tutor, Kahuku, 45-09.50; 3. Anthony Taylor, Kamehameha, 43-10.00; 4. Aukai Lai, Waianae, 42-11.00; 5. Christian Vasconcellos, Damien, 42-06.25; 6. Joshua Obena, Pearl City, 41-10.00; 7. Brandon Hardin, Kamehameha, 41-08.25; 8. Jonathan Fukui, Pearl City, 41-07.00.
4x400 relay--1. Kamehameha, 3:26.27; 2. Kahuku, 3:27.00; 3. Punahou, 3:27.78; 4. Mililani, 3:29.01; 5. Hawaii Prep, 3:28.76; 6. Word of Life, 3:35.41; 7. Iolani, 3:33.32; 8. Roosevelt, 3:34.53.
Varsity girls
Discus--1. Careena Onosai, Word of Life, 147-02; 2. Nete Tolutau, Baldwin, 133-08; 3. Joni Green, St. Joseph, 125-09; 4. Ilissa Aalona, Kahuku, 121-03; 5. Chante Ching, Kamehameha-Hawaii, 113-02; 6. Megan Burton, Iolani, 112-00; 8. Jasmine Taele, Kahuku, 109-04; 8. Agnes Faaleaoga-Maloata, Kailua, 107-07.
Shot put--1. Nete Tolutau, Baldwin, 38-04.75; 2. Careena Onosai, Word of Life, 37-11.50; 3. Chante Ching, Kamehameha-Hawaii, 37-00.00; 4. Charmaine Mokiao, Kamehameha, 36-02.50; 5. Charnelle Ioane, Kapolei, 33-00.00; 6. Joni Green, St. Joseph, 32-10.50; 7. Mareta Nuusolia, Aiea, 32-10.00; 8. Ashley Rosa, Kamehameha-Maui, J32-10.00.
Long jump--1. Samantha Cabreros, Punahou, 18-00.00; 2. Vanessa Drake, Leilehua, 17-03.00; 3. Tiara Dole, St. Anthony, J17-03.00; 4. Renee Elbourne, Kaimuki, 17-02.25; 5. Jordyn Kilgore, Lahainaluna, 16-10.25; 6. Yasmine Taketa, Kalani, 16-07.00; 7. Tiffany Ikeda-Simao, Kauai, 16-05.25; 8. Jessica Brown, Honokaa, 16-04.00.
100 hurdles--1. June Ann Lusk, Baldwin, 15.79; 2. Sarah Nicolaisen, Kau, 16.31; 3. Ili Wong, Iolani, 16.80; 4. Larissa Edwards, Kau, 16.87; 5. Rachel Won, Iolani, 16.73; 6. Kharyse Thompson, Radford, 16.83; 7. Grace Hedemann, Konawaena, 16.89; 8. Kealani Gangwes, Kau, 16.93.
100 meter dash--1. June Ann Lusk, Baldwin, 12.74; 2. Briney Stephens, Mililani, 12.75; 3. Tiffany Ikeda-Simao, Kauai, 12.76; 4. Jessica Brown, Honokaa, 12.77; 5. Brittany Feiteira, Baldwin, 12.98; 6. Yasmine Taketa, Kalani, 13.20; 7. Shayna Kapaona, Kamehameha, 13.24; 8. Nicole Smith, Kamehameha-Maui, 13.26.
1,500 meter run--1. Mallory Kurosumi, Mid-Pacific, 5:01.12; 2. Haley Abing, La Pietra, 5:03.53; 3. Julie Besenbruch, Maryknoll, 5:03.72; 4. Chelsea Smith-Wishard, Kauai, 5:04.37; 5. Noelani Vargas, Hawaii Prep, 5:04.16; 6. Dara Pagaduan, Kamehameha, 5:04.83; 7. Lucy Pollard, Hawaii Prep, 5:05.21; 8. Chelsea Oda, Punahou, 5:05.87.
400 meter dash--1. Natasha Minor, Radford, 60.39; 2. Jennifer Tanaka, St. Andrews, 60.59; 3. Kim Culver, Punahou, 61.52; 4. Ciara Quarles, Mililani, 62.07; 5. Keilyn Tanimoto, Pearl City, 61.07; 6. Erin Wooldridge, King Kekaulike, 61.12; 7. Desiree Adolpho, Waipahu, 61.67; 8. Yasmine Taketa, Kalani, 62.13.
300 meter hurdles--1. Sarah Nicolaisen, Kau, 47.42; 2. Alana Meditz, Kamehameha, 47.92; 3. Alana Durrett, Kamehameha, 48.25; 4. Justina Wood, Hawaii Prep, 50.06; 5. Noelani Roach, Waipahu, 49.00; 6. Rachel Won, Iolani, 49.32; 7. Kathryn Nickerson, Moanalua, 49.42; 8. Carrie-Beth Komatsu, Maui, 50.25.
800 meter run--1. Brittany Young, Seabury Hall, 2:23.11; 2. Maya Coelho, Kamehameha, 2:24.47; 3. Marisa Schoen, Punahou, 2:26.62; 4. Chelsea Smith-Wishard, Kauai, 2:24.50; 5. Megan Chock, Iolani, 2:25.36; 6. Leialoha Bratton, Kaiser, 2:27.00; 7. Piper Marshall, Punahou, 2:24.63; 8. Keri Odgen, Hawaii Prep, 2:26.55.
200 meter dash--1. Britney Stephens, Mililani, 25.57; 2. Brittany Feiteira, Baldwin, 26.10; 3. Tiffany Ikeda-Simao, Kauai, 26.14; 4. June Ann Lusk, Baldwin, 26.33; 5. Jessica Brown, Honokaa, 26.44; 6. Kim Culver, Punahou, 26.56; 7. Nicole Smith, Kamehameha-Maui, 26.71; 8. Ciara Quarles, Mililani 26.74.
High jump--t1. Jill Uehara, St. Anthony; Tiara Dole, St. Anthony; Chelsea Machida, Maui; Alexa Untermann, Punahou; Sarah Nicolaisen, Kau; Caroline Riston, Punahou; Savannah Rollins, Kauai; Maya Coelho, Kamehameha; Jamilee Jimenez, Kauai; Na' Lani Ravelo, Kalaheo; Makena Naho'oikaika, Kamehame-Hawaii, 4-10.00.
Pole Vault--t1. Kaimana Rebolledo, Baldwin; Anna Hildebrand, Punahou; Nadia Romero, Mililani; Daysha Viernes, Hilo; Dana Harada, Punahou; Charina Sumner, Kamehameha; Jessie Harris, Hilo; Courtney Cabebe, Maui; Sara Wynhoff, Iolani; Jasmine Knight, Kamehameha; Savannah Frank, Radford, 8-06.00.
4x100 relay--1. Mililani, 50.63; 2. Baldwin, 51.19; 3. Kauai, 51.28; 4. Punahou, 51.63; 5. Kapolei 51.98; 6. Kamehameha, 52.04; 7. Kaiser, 52.22; 8. Kahuku, 52.41.
3,000 meter run--1. Julie Besenbruch, Maryknoll, 11:09.32; 2. Mallory Kurosumi, Mid-Pacific, 11:11.51; 3. Bailey Massenburg, King Kekaulike, 11:09.38; 4. Lucy Pollard, Hawaii Prep, 11:14.93; 5. Haley Abing, La Pietra, 11.10.63; 6. Amanda Tamanaha, St. Andrews, 11:18.59; 7. Caronne Rozet, Kamehameha-Maui, 11:15.63; 8. Kelli Ishihara, Mililani, 11:18.86.
Triple jump--1. Samantha Cabreros, Punahou, 38-02.50; 2. Vanessa Drake, Leilehua, 25-09.75; 3. Jessica Brown, Honokaa, 35-06.25; 4. Joy Piotrowski, Punahou, 24-05.75; 5. Kazue Ishihara, Mid-Pacific, 34-05.50; 6. Renee Elbourne, Kaimuki, 34-03.75; 7. Jordyn Kilgore, Lahainaluna, 34-02.50; 8. Jasmine Pratt, Mililani, 33-04.75.
4x400 relay--1. Waipahu, 4:10.38; 2. Punahou, 4:11.98; 3. Baldwin, 4:12.03; 4. Kapolei, 4:12.08; 5. Kaiser, 4:15.40; 6. Kamehameha, 4:16.90; 7. Iolani, 4:16.94; 8. Castle, 4:17.01.