[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]
Unpredictable conditions, but somewhat predictable finishes. Punahou sweeps
ILH kayaking
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comWind-blown Keehi Lagoon proved to be a choppy 3,000-meter course for yesterday's Interscholastic League of Honolulu kayaking championships. Proving up to the challenge were the two kayakers who dominated the regular season.
Iolani junior Peter VanLier Ribbink completed an undefeated year with a 12-second victory in the boys competition, while Punahou junior Lindsay Wessberg jumped out to an early lead in earning a 19-second win for the girls title.
The Buffanblu swept both team titles, edging Iolani 35-40 for the boys championship and successfully defending in the girls competition, 25-55 over Mid-Pacific.
For the first time in 15 years, the event was not held on the Ala Wai Canal, which is being dredged. Yesterday, the kayakers made three laps on a 1,000-meter triangular course; the Ala Wai courses had been straight 250 and 2,000 meters.
"It was a tough race," said VanLier Ribbink, last year's runner-up at 2,000 meters. "We had a lot of wind, a strange wind, and a side swell.
"I didn't think about it (being undefeated). I do it one race at a time. But I wanted my sister to win her race."
His sister, Punahou sophomore Halli VanLier Ribbink, finished third for the first time this season. She had been the only one to defeat Wessberg in six previous races, doing it twice, while placing second in the other four events.
Halli VanLier Ribbink got boxed in at the start and was running fourth until the last 500 meters. She passed MPI's Mariah Dailey, but couldn't catch Wessberg (14:10:14) or a strong-finishing Jessica Young of Iolani (14:19:46), and finished third at 14:21:33.
"Halli has a really good burst of energy at the end," said Dailey, finishing with her highest placing of the season. "In the beginning, I tried to stay on Lindsay's wake, but she was going too fast. She and (Young) took off."
Wessberg's fast start was her normal strategy.
"I always try to find my own water and stay in front," said the member of the Hawaii Canoe-Kayak Team.
"It was choppy out there, but definitely more fun than the Ala Wai. I think what helped me was I learned from the two races I didn't win and it helped me get stronger."
Punahou trained on Maunalua Bay in preparation for yesterday's races. Repeating as girls champion was not a big surprise -- the Buffanblu took five of the top eight places -- but the victory on the boys side was considered a mild upset.
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