RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Punahou's Kaniela Lyman-Mersereau couldn't clear 12 feet in the pole vault yesterday at the Punahou Relays.
UH receiver isles’
fastest human
For University of Hawaii wide receiver Daniel Inferrera, the road to more playing time on the football field took him to the Punahou track yesterday afternoon.
And while his playing time for next season is yet to be determined, for the present he can at least call himself Hawaii's Fastest Human, after winning the much-anticipated 100-meter event at the Punahou Invitational Relays.
"Today was a way to show what I can do and to help get me on the (football) field," Inferrera said. "This whole thing was about improving my stock for the upcoming season. I didn't think I would come in and win here. I just wanted to have Coach Ron (Lee) come over and watch me run."
Inferrera's time of 11.009 was just enough to edge two-time winner Hank Warrington (11.014). Chad Miyamoto (11.125) placed third, while four-time winner Kelsey Nakanelua (11.127) finished fourth, followed by Kua'ana Kekuewa (11.723) and Jack Karbens (14.911).
Inferrera and Warrington took different training routes leading up to the race, which is the only event at the Punahou Relays open to competitors not affiliated with a high school.
Inferrera, who has four years of college eligibility remaining after redshirting last year, benefited from the conditioning he has done during UH's spring football practice. Although a state champion for Saint Louis School in the 100- and 200-meter dashes in 2001, he didn't train on a track for the Hawaii's Fastest Human race.
"It's because of (wearing) the pads because I didn't train (specifically for the event)," he said. "We run around the field in our equipment, and then when you come out here and run on the track, it's a different story. Everything's lighter -- it helped me out a lot."
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Chad Miyamoto, Hank Warrington, Kelsey Nakanelua and Daniel Inferrera ran in the Hawaii's Fastest Human race. Inferrera beat Warrington by less than a second.
Conversely, Warrington, who is 38, trained "three or four times a week" for the last two months.
"I can't complain," said Warrington. "I lost to a kid who is half my age and a Division I athlete. He'd be scary if he trained (on a track) a bit."
Inferrera said he was also inspired by the memory of his late friend John Siofele.
"I want to pay my respect to his family -- I still remember him, and I still love him," he said.
Inferrera wasn't the only football player to leave his mark yesterday. In the Football/Power Relay (6-by-67-meter), which requires that each participant weighs over 200 pounds, Kahuku posted a time of 47.97 to beat Damien.
Kahuku's team consisted of Viliami Nauahi, Quin Ah You, Tu Tui, Sione Olevao, Paia Vaimoui and David Alisa.
"Our hand-offs were junk, but once I started running, and the adrenaline started rushing, I thought it was pretty fun," said Nauahi, who will attend UH on a football scholarship next fall.
Although fielding a team of runners over 200 pounds was not a problem for the Red Raiders -- "We have a lot over 300 pounds," Nauahi joked -- Olevao was a late addition to the Kahuku team.
"I was at a volleyball fund-raiser and they said they needed one more guy and they came and picked me up -- I didn't know I was going to do this," he said. "We were more worried about passing the baton. We knew we had the speed. And it was hard to stay inside the lines."
The majority of participants at yesterday's event saw the occasion as a preview of the upcoming state track and field finals, which will be held May 10 at Kamehameha Schools.
Baldwin coach Neil Takeyama made the trip from Maui, although his daughter, Koren, was the school's lone participant.
Although Koren was not able to successfully defend her title from last year, finishing third, she posted a season-best jump of 16 feet and 934 inches.
"I wanted her to see her name in the program and defend her title," Takeyama said. "Historically, it is one of the best track meets in the state. It's nice (for neighbor island schools) to compete against Oahu (teams)."
Mililani's Chun Mei Nickles was named Outstanding Female Performer for the event for the second year in a row.
"It's a great honor," she said. "I guess I'm still kind of in shock. I wasn't thinking about (repeating). This meet helps me to get ready for states."
Nickles set a new meet record en route to winning the pole vault (11-1) and collaborated with Kristin Halbert, Liane Tom and younger sister Mei Li Nickles to help the Trojans capture the 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay (1:06.4) and the 4x180 relay (1:41.8).
Mei Li Nickles also took first in the girls long jump.
"I was really happy with the long jump," Mei Li said. "The ILH always has really good competition, so this helps me to see where I'm at and to gauge it (the talent statewide)."
Micah Strickland of Punahou was named the Outstanding Male Performer for the meet. He helped the Buffanblu win the 4x110 (1:04.5) and 4x180 shuttle hurdles (1:25.8) as well as the 4x100 relay (43.87).
