Mililani reprimanded
over cross country meet
Mililani High School was reprimanded by the Oahu Interscholastic Association for participating in a cross country meet last week, according to Trojans coach Shane Akamine.
The Trojans and all other OIA schools were told by the league that they wouldn't be allowed to take part in any competitions other than the meets listed on the league schedule.
The OIA made that decision along with a decision to cut out two preseason meets as a way to address budget cuts, Pearl City cross country coach Nathan Aragaki said.
But Aragaki added that even though the proposed budget cuts were fully restored by Gov. Linda Lingle, the OIA athletic directors didn't put the two meets back on the schedule.
Nanakuli athletic director Hugh Taufaasau, who is also the OIA's cross country coordinator, stands by the league's decisions.
"Just because the funds have been restored doesn't mean we have them yet," he said. "By the time the money gets to us, the sport would have already started and that's a problem."
The official start of the season is Sept. 27 at the Kaiser Invitational at Central Oahu Regional Park.
Mililani ran in a meet hosted by Maryknoll of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu at Koko Head District Park last weekend. The Trojans didn't use their school name, uniforms or league transportation, but the school name was listed in the girls team results provided by scorekeepers and published by the Star-Bulletin.
The league doesn't want schools going to outside meets even if they provide their own transportation, in order to keep all teams on equal footing, Taufaasau said.
Akamine said Mililani's infraction is on file at the OIA and added that the penalty would be minor.
"We'll decide if we need to pursue the matter further," Taufaasau said.
Aragaki is disappointed that the kids are losing out.
"The OIA is doing a disservice if the athletes can't run," he said. "They don't know how important those meets are to us. Now the ILH is going to be so far ahead of us that they're going to kick our butts at the states."
The OIA has told its cross country teams not to compete in the ILH's Iolani Invitational this Saturday, a meet that a handful of league teams usually run in.
Two traveling matches have also been taken away from OIA bowling teams, according to Taufaasau.
The league avoided cutting contests for revenue sports such as football and volleyball.
Air riflery was affected, however. The league championship was cut from two days to one.
