Punahou gets a jump start

The field part of track and field gave Punahou a head start in defending its boys and girls titles at yesterday's Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship trials.

Abe Markowitz flung the discus 158 feet, 3 inches and put the shot 55-2 1/4 , distances that might not be matched by anyone else during tomorrow's finals at Kamehameha, beginning at 3:30 p.m. That would give the Buffanblu a 20-point jump on the competition.

Speaking of leaps, Lindsay Taira's 15-8 1/2 in the long jump and Joy Piotrowski's 35-6 1/4 in the triple highlight what will likely be massive scoring in the non-running events for Punahou in the girls meet. And the Buffanblu aren't bad on the track, either.

But coach Duncan Macdonald is still wary of the host Warriors as Punahou goes after its sixth league crown in a row.

"I thought coming into this we'd be in a deadlock with Kamehameha and they're the favorite for state," Macdonald said. "They've got some good guns. I think we did pretty well (in trials). If we lose, it will be to a good team."

Kamehameha sprinter Hailey Kauhane qualified first in the 100 and 200, the latter during a brief but intense rain shower. Will less than ideal conditions tomorrow help host Kamehameha?

"We're kind of used to it because it's windy when we practice, but it hasn't rained lately," said Kauhane, the defending ILH champion in the 100. "(Punahou's) really fast. It could go either way."

Zach Coronas, Punahou's top sprinter, ran in only the 400 yesterday (which he won in 2007 at ILH and state) due to a foot strain. He will be available for the relays.

Saint Louis sprinter Billy Ray Stutzmann, who won the 100 and 200 last year, is out with a hamstring strain.