Hawaii Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Brennan, Kamana'o honored
Colt Brennan and Kanoe Kamana'o will go down in history as two of the greatest athletes in University of Hawaii history -- as well as the Western Athletic Conference, after they were announced yesterday as winners of the Joe Kearney Award, given to the WAC's top male and female athletes each year.
"I just heard about it," Brennan, the UH senior quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate, said last night. "That was pretty cool. I was pretty stoked about that."
Brennan was picked ahead of nominees from the other WAC schools, including last year's winner, Nevada basketball star Nick Fazekas.
Kamana'o completed her UH career last fall. She is in the running for another award, NCAA Woman of the Year. That will be announced Oct. 27.
"It's always an honor just to be nominated," Kamana'o said of winning her second consecutive Kearney Award. "And then to be chosen ... I feel very honored. It's nothing you think about happening, especially since I'm done playing. It's a great honor to win again."
Last Transpac class winner finishes
Cirrus, skippered by Hawaii's Lindsey Austin, finished late Thursday night to win the Aloha B class of the 44th Transpacific Yacht Race, the last class winner to be determined.
The Standfast-40 took 17 days, 22 hours, 18 minutes and 54 seconds to complete the 2,225-mile race from Los Angeles to Honolulu. The rest of the crew is comprised of Donna Austin, Caroline Heinrich, Nancy Piper and Christin Shacat, all members of the Honolulu-based Women's Yacht Racing Association, and owner Bill Myers.
Perkins injured at Tahiti Pro meet
Hawaii's Keoni Perkins was injured during yesterday's final heat of the Opt-Tahiti Pro Longboard surf meet off Taharuu Beach, Papara, Tahiti.
According to organizers, Perkins fell hard on his board after takeoff and had to be rescued by lifeguards. He was taken to the hospital for observation.
Perkins finished second in his heat despite the accident. Other Hawaii surfers advancing after winning their respective heats were Tom Keahi, Sharsh Kanai and Scott Fong. Eliminated after placing fourth in his heat was Kekoa Dahlin.
Perkins finished second in his heat despite the accident. Other Hawaii surfers advancing after winning their respective heats were Tom Keahi, Sharsh Kanai and Scott Fong. Eliminated after placing fourth in his heat was Kekoa Dahlin.
» Mililani's Kekoa Bacalso upset former U.S. Open champion Corey Lopez yesterday to advance to Round 5 of the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach, Calif.
Bacalso, a former world junior champion, scored a 15.17 in his Round 4 heat, with Hawaii's Hank Gaskell second with a 13.66. Lopez was third with a 12.54.
In the women's portion, Megan Abubo was the only Hawaii surfer to advance after yesterday's Round 3. She won her heat, which saw the elimination of Rochelle Ballard.
Women's stroke play title on line
State match play winner Erin Long and Waialae Invitational champion Kathy Tsukada headline the field for next week's Hawaii State Women's Golf Association State Stroke Play Championship at Mid-Pacific Country Club.
Competition tees off with Tuesday's first round and continues through Thursday's final round. The event serves as the selection process for the Hawaii team that will compete in the USGA Women's State Championship Sept. 18-20 in Texas.