Sunday, May 20, 2001
[ PREP TRACK & FIELD ]
WAILUKU >> The Macdonald reign continues, and so does the Punahou girls' streak of state track and field championships. Punahou sweeps track titles
By Dave Reardon
Star-BulletinPippa Macdonald successfully defended her title in the 800 meters, as did teammate Natalie Fujimoto in the shot put, and Punahou held off some fairly serious challenges from Iolani, Sacred Hearts and Baldwin to win the Island Movers state track and field championships.
At press time last night, the triple jump was still being contested, but Punahou had mathematically clinched team victory. Punahou's girls have won six consecutive state titles and 25 overall.
Going into the triple jump, Punahou led with 47 points. Iolani was second with 391/2, Sacred Hearts third with 35 and Baldwin fourth with 31.
The Buffanblu boys also won, dominating with 72 points. Kamehameha was second with 33.
No records were set in either meet.
Macdonald has suffered from leg injuries since last summer, and had only the 10th best time to get into Friday night's trials. But she had the second-best time in the trials.
Last night, she ran an excellent tactical race to catch Pearl City's Carmen Calpo and Orion Wilson on the second lap.
Macdonald's winning time was 2:23.00. She or her sister, Eri, have now won the state 800 meters six consecutive years.
"It wasn't a matter of peaking," said their father, Punahou assistant coach Duncan Macdonald. "She's had recurring leg injuries, so she's only been training for six weeks. We're really pleased."
So was Eri, who was excited about matching her sister's accomplishments, but more importantly, giving her team a key six points.
"I think it might have made a difference," she said.
As did Fujimoto's second consecutive state win in the shot put. Actually, her winning mark of 41 feet, 11 inches came in Friday's trials.
"That was huge," Punahou coach Steve Link said. "Natalie brought out the best in a lot of her teammates by setting the tone again.
"And Pippa. She ran a smart race. She has that Macdonald blood," he added, referring to Duncan Macdonald's status as one of the greatest distance runners in Hawaii history. "She has the desire of a champion."
Link also credited the 4x100 relay team of Sarah Kimball, Kaily Lam, Carly Killam and Ashley Dutro for a key second-place finish in 51.25 that gave the Buffanblu eight needed points.
"That's the heart of our team and the heart of our effort tonight," Link said.
Sacred Hearts won that relay, with Kelly Figueira anchoring a team that ran 50.60. Figueira was the individual star of the meet, with victories in the 100 meters and the highly anticipated but anti-climactic long jump battle with Kahuku's Natasha Kai.
Figueira was also second in the 200 to Iolani's Lauran Dignam. Dignam successfully defended her state titles in the 200 and the 400. Her times were 25.16 and 58.92.
Figueira, who set a state record earlier this season with a jump of 19 feet, 31/4 inches, won last night with 18-9. Kai went 17-4 for second.
"I guess I'm happy and disappointed," Figueira said. "I wanted the record, but I'm glad I got the title."
Baldwin's Zoie Sevilla was a surprise winner in the girls high jump, shocking two-time state champion and meet record-holder Kai.
Sevilla, a sophomore who didn't place at the Maui Interscholastic League championships, won by jumping 5 feet, 2 inches, four inches better than her previous best.
"Unbelievable. Big surprise," Sevilla said. "I had no idea I'd win. Place, maybe, but not win against Natasha Kai."
Kai broke down briefly, but recovered well enough to win the 300 intermediate hurdles in a time of 46.08 and the 100 high hurdles in 15.11. She also was in the finals of the triple jump, which began 1 hour and 20 minutes after the rest of the meet was over.
Meanwhile, Punahou's boys won their fifth title in the past six years and 28th overall with a supreme team effort under first-year head coach Louis Johnson.
"Coach Louie put in us the idea that there are no superstars on this team," said distance runner Todd Iacovelli, Punahou's only winner of more than one individual event.
Iacovelli won the 1,500 meters in 4 minutes, 15.07 seconds, outsprinting Mililani's Andrew Kamikawa to the tape. He also took the 3,000 meters in 9:13.29.
Punahou closed the meet in fitting fashion, winning the 4x400 meter relay. Toa Hackney, Troy Nakamatsu, John Yamane and Michael Fujioka won in 3:27.18.
The Buffanblu also captured the 4x100 meters to sweep the 10-point relay events. Hackney, Nakamatsu, Kuaana Kekuewa and B.J. Murakami won it in 44.33.
"Winning both relays is rewarding, and not just because of the extra points," said Johnson, who was an assistant at Punahou for 13 years before becoming head coach after last season. "The relays are about what we try to teach on the team concept, about going after the team title."
St. Louis sprinter Daniel Inferrera was the only other double-winner, as Molokai's DeMarques Potter finished second to him in both the 100 and 200 meters. Inferrera's winning times were 10.91 and 22.15.
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