Punahou loses Link
—for now

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Star-Bulletin Staff

Steve Link is stepping down as the Punahou girls track and field head coach, fresh off leading the Buffanblu to their sixth consecutive state championship last week.

Link, a fourth-grade teacher at Punahou, said he would like to spend more time with his family and on other interests.

"I see myself coming back in a couple years, probably as an assistant," Link, 42, said. "I'm not burned out. I still love the school and the sport. I just want to make sure I don't get burned out."

During Link's 11 years as head coach, Punahou won eight girls state titles and all 11 Interscholastic League of Honolulu championships (the Buffanblu have won 36 consecutive ILH titles).

No successor has been announced, but Link said former head coach and current assistant Dan Tuttle III would be a good choice.

"If he's offered the job, it would certainly be a smooth transition," Link said.

Clay takes third in NAIA championship hurdles

Castle High School graduate, Bryan Clay, a junior at Azusa Pacific, placed third in the 110-meter high hurdles yesterday at the NAIA championship meet at Simon Fraser University.

His time was 14.40 seconds.

Clay, who won the long jump Thursday, is in the pole vault, javelin and 4x100-meter relay final today. He is the defending NAIA champion in the decathlon, but is not entered so he can prepare for the U.S. Championships in three weeks.

North Shore Swim Series starts up next month

The four-part 2001 North Shore Swim Series begins June 23 with the Raging Isle Sprint from Sunset Beach to Ehukai Beach Park.

Other events to follow are the North Shore Challenge on July 8, Cholo's 2000 Swim on July 21 and the Surf & Sea Cup on Aug. 4. The entry fee is $20 for each event.

Athletic trainers' symposium nearing

The Hawaii Athletic Trainers' Association is holding its annual symposium June 1-2 at the University of Hawaii Athletic Complex.

Featured speakers include trainers, medical doctors and Ph.D.s speaking on topics ranging from adolescent development to preventing athletic trainer burnout.

For more information, call Stacy Kanayama at 375-3207.

Hawaiian half-marathon to benefit Hawaii Youth

The 13.1-mile Hawaiian Half-Marathon is scheduled for June 11, 5 p.m., beginning at Magic Island and ending at Kapiolani Park.

Proceeds from the event will go to nonprofit organizations including Hawaii Youth Challenge, which is the state's National Guard program for at-risk teens. The entry fee is $25 for U.S. residents.

For information, call the Running Room at 737-2422.

Hawaii's own

Benny Agbayani, Mets: Batting seventh, the St. Louis and Hawaii Pacific alumnus went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in New York's 4-3, 10-inning win over Florida.

Mike Fetters, Dodgers: The Iolani graduate faced only two batters in Los Angeles' 4-1 win over Houston. He allowed a single to Jeff Bagwell and struck out Lance Berkman in the eighth.