Friday, May 18, 2001
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Buffanblu: Champs They are defending state champions and current Interscholastic League of Honolulu kingpins. They have an ongoing streak of five state titles and 22 overall.
but underdogs
The Punahou girls track and
field team is in the running for
a sixth straight state titleBy Dave Reardon
Star-BulletinYet, somehow, the Punahou Buffanblu girls track and field team is an underdog going into today's trials and tomorrow's finals of the Island Movers state meet at War Memorial Stadium on Maui.
"It looks like about five or six different teams have a chance," Punahou coach Steve Link said. "But I think Iolani is definitely the favorite if you just look at the entries."
What: 2001 Island Movers Track and Field state meet. GAME DAY
Where: War Memorial Stadium, Wailuku, Maui.
Defending champions: Kamehameha boys, Punahou girls.
Tonight: Trials (running only) begin at 7 p.m.
Tomorrow: Trials for field events begin at 2 p.m. Running finals begin at 5:40 p.m.
DEFENDING STATE
CHAMPIONSBoys
Andrew Nelson, Seabury Hall, 400 meters, 50.44
Nainoa Spencer, Kamehameha, triple jump, 45-11/4
Girls
Lauran Dignam, Iolani, 400 meters, 58.21
Lauran Dignam, Iolani, 200 meters, 25.68
Pippa Macdonald, Punahou, 800 meters, 2:20.23
Natasha Kai, Kahuku, high jump, 5-1
Natasha Kai, Kahuku, long jump, 17-41/2
Natalie Fujimoto, Punahou, shot put, 38-51/2
The numbers justify Link's assessment.
Based on best marks to date, Iolani is projected to score 49 points. Kahuku (38), Punahou (35), Hilo (34) and Sacred Hearts (33) are bunched behind.
While the Raiders are 11 points ahead of the next contender on paper, that mythical lead can disappear in the flash of a dropped baton or a disqualification.
Or, a few key switches in places among top competitors can change the complexion of a meet. That was one of the reasons Punahou's girls won the ILH championship two weeks ago.
Long-jump record holder Kelly Figueira of Sacred Hearts grabbed four first places, including a pivotal edging of Iolani state sprinting champ Lauran Dignam at the tape of the 100 meters (both were timed at 12.31 seconds, best this year in the state by nearly a half-second).
And the Buffanblu got a great effort from their hurdlers. Chanel Zeisel won the 100 highs and Kaily Lam took the 300 intermediates as Punahou scored 27 of a possible 32 points in the two events.
But the public schools are sending strong hurdlers to states; going in, Zeisel has only the sixth best time in the highs and Lam the fourth best in the intermediates.
Still, Link said it isn't impossible for Punahou -- or one of the other contenders -- to take the team championship.
"It really depends on what happens with the Kai sisters (Kahuku's Natasha and Krisha), as well as with Dignam and Figueira," Link said.
The Raiders also have strong relay teams anchored by Dignam, and Genia Linear, who owns the best discus throw of the year (133 feet, 4 inches).
"We don't have that person like we did in the past who you know is 99 percent sure of winning two events, like a Victoria Chang," Link said.
The Punahou boys do. Todd Iacovelli is a clear favorite to win the 1,500 and 3,000 meter runs, and the Buffanblu boys have enough depth to support him and give Louis Johnson a state title in his first year as head coach.
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