StarBulletin.com

Villoria brothers pull a fast one


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POSTED: Sunday, April 26, 2009

Joshua Villoria had one less supporter in the stands and one more competitor out on the track.

Pushed by the presence of his older brother, Adrian, and another old rival, Villoria defended his title as “;Hawaii's Fastest Human”; in the open 100-meter dash at yesterday's Punahou Relays.

The 21-year-old Farrington graduate beat University of Hawaii senior slotback Nathaniel Nasca—a friendly foil going back to their days at Azusa Pacific College—by 12 hundredths of a second, 11.06 to 11.18.

(Nasca is appealing the NCAA for eligibility at UH this fall because of an injury before transferring from Azusa.)

Joshua Villoria also had Adrian, a track neophyte, to worry about among his seven competitors. The elder Villoria hadn't ever run a meet event and was still impressive in sixth place at 12.19.

“;He just felt like doing something. He got a lot of free time, so he started training with me,”; said Joshua, who won the event for the second time in three tries. He dedicated the victory to his friends Janssen West and Zac Ventura. It was the birthday of the late West, and Villoria said Ventura is paralyzed from the shoulders down but is making progress.

When Joshua's winning time was announced on the Punahou loudspeakers—0.11 seconds slower than last year—he groaned and Adrian laughed at him.

Adrian said he was happy to help push his brother to victory after months of training together.

“;It's pretty funny to be down here with all the athletes and whatnot,”; said Adrian, 25, whose only other athletic background is in karate. “;I'm really surprised with where I am, running with all the guys I was cheering for the last couple of years. It's been pretty hard. I shaved down 25 pounds from November, so it's pretty tough.”;

Kamehameha rumbled to victory in the Power Relay, a popular 6x67-meter event in which competitors must be more than 200 pounds. Most of the participants are regulars in discus and shot put, but get to show a different side, and speed. Kamehameha crossed in 45.97 seconds, less than half a second off the event record.

“;It means a lot to us,”; anchor Landon Aano said. “;A determination thing, seeing that us, as big men, can run. There's no other event like this. It's exciting, it's unpredictable.”;

The day's other events served as a preview of sorts for the upcoming high school league championships and the state meet next month in Hilo.

Mililani served notice that its boys sprinters are a force. The Trojans won the 4x100 and the 4x200 relays, earning Dalaunte “;Taz”; Stevenson the male athlete of the meet award.

“;It just shows the ability and potential that we have when we do go to states,”; said Stevenson, a junior.

On the award, he said, “;Today's the Punahou Relays, so it's not just about me. It's about the relay team. I think we all deserve it.”;

Kahuku sophomore Zhane Santiago was the female athlete of the meet. She ran as anchor in the 4x100 and 4x180 shuttle hurdle events, bringing her team from behind to victory in both. She also won the girls long jump at 16 feet, 5 inches, and was runner-up in the triple jump.

“;It feels like I pulled success through the meet like we were trying to do,”; said Santiago, the reigning state champion in the triple jump, 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. “;My goals today were to make a good form and to pull through and not give up. I didn't want to let my team down, so I just tried my best.”;