D'Andre Benjamin and Britney Stephens were undoubtedly the outstanding individuals for the Mililani boys and girls track and field teams yesterday, combining for 44 points as individuals and anchoring the coup de grace 4x400 relay wins in their final races on their home track.
But they were also supported by points from legions of teammates, as the host Trojans ran away with both the Oahu Interscholastic Association boys and girls championships.
"We have great chemistry," Benjamin said. "When we need people to step up they do, and the points come our way."
Mililani made it look easy, as the boys won their sixth OIA title and second in three years with 102 1/3 points. Leilehua was a distant second with 40 1/3. The Trojan girls made it three Oahu public school crowns in a row and 10 since 1987 with 120 points to 78 for second-place Kahuku.
Benjamin swept the hurdles (15.61 seconds in the 110 and a personal-best 39.93 in the 300), placed third in the long jump (21-0) and anchored Mililani's wining 4x400 relay (3:31.55).
Kawika Ornellas in the 100 (11.42) and Cameron Daugherty in the pole vault (13-6) and the 4x100 relay team (43.57) also provided firsts for Mililani. The Trojans scored in 11 of 16 events.
"They're so talented they can have off races and still win," Leilehua coach Shawn Nakata said.
The meet was actually won during Thursday's trials. The Trojans went into yesterday's finals with 32 scoring opportunities.
"Our whole goal was to get to today," first-year Mililani head coach Marshall Ochi said. "We knew Thursday was the most important day.
"Today was just a matter of not getting overconfident and finishing the job," Ochi added. "I told them it was a close meet. They always ask me the score and I just tell them it's close."
Nakata knew it wasn't, and that helped him decide to run Bryce Jenkins in only the 3,000 meters. The state cross country champ responded by breaking the meet record with a 9:21.59.
The afternoon heat let up a bit at the start of the race, helping Jenkins past Jeff Lim's 7-year-old mark of 9:27.88. A slight injury didn't slow Jenkins, who took the lead early and ran alone nearly the entire way.
"My ankle's bothering me a little," Jenkins said afterward. "But I'm a spiritual person, so that helped get me through it."
Teammate Paul Williams was held out of the 3,000 because of a sore Achilles' heel, but Williams still managed a third in the 1,500. Kaiser's Dawson Vordebruegger shot out of the pack and ran a 62-second final lap to win going away in 4:16.55.
"Good results come when you follow the strategy," Kaiser coach Dennis Swart said.
And sometimes it just happens, like when Leilehua sophomore Joshua Bay ran what appeared to be a well-crafted 800 to win in 2:03.35.
"Actually I got stuck in the back in the first 400," he said. "In the last 400, I thought they were all gone, but I guess I had a good kick."
Eric James of Aiea shined in several events. He won the 400 (51.31) and the long jump (22-4), and took fourth in both the 100 and 200.
Stephens successfully defended her OIA title in the 100 (12.67), but not the 200, as Kapolei junior Tamara McGee (25.69) edged her by 1100th of a second. Stephens (who also ran on the winning 4x100 relay) made up for it with a turbo-blast out of the last turn in the 4x400 to make up 5 yards on Kapolei anchor Dana Tamayo and win going away.
"We have like a wall over there on that last turn," Stephens said. "I figured this was my last race on our home track, so I should give it everything."
Stephens' most apparent support came from freshman Kristin Ali Keith, who won the 3,000 (11:15.76) and picked up two more points with a fifth in the 1,500. But Mililani girls coach Dane Matsunaga said others performed beyond expectations, including Ashley Fronda and Isabel Romero, who were second and fifth in the high jump, and Brooke Brown and Amy Hunt, who overachieved to third and fourth in the 800.
"Our distance did well," Stephens said. "Mad props to (Keith). Everything. Field, long, sprints."
Kalani junior Yasmina Taketa doubled in the 400 (61.77) and the long jump (17-3 1/4). She was also third in both the 100 and 200.
Kahuku's Tajana Santiago also won two events, taking the 100 hurdles (16.69) and the triple jump (35-8).
Leialoha Bratton of Kaiser won the 800 (2:26.64), and was edged by 2100ths of a second for first in the 1,500 by Leilehua's Savannah Lowrie (5:12.27).
TRACK & FIELD
OIA Championships
At Mililani High School
Varsity boys
Team scores
1. Mililani, 102.33; 2. Leilehua, 40.33; 3. Kaiser 40; 4. Kahuku, 36; 5. Moanalua, 35; 6. Radford, 30.33; 7. Aiea, 29; 8. Waianae, 26; 9. Kapolei, 25; 10. Roosevelt, 25.
Boys 110-meter hurdles
1. D'Andre Benjamin, Mililani, 15.61; 2. Christopher Smith, Radford, 15.95; 3. Ethan Rista, Castle, 16.14; 4. Stan Nakasone, Kahuku, 16.21; 5. Paipai Falemalu Jr., Kahuku, 16.23; 6. Kelemeke Maifea, Waianae, 16.26.
Boys 100-meter dash
1. Kawika Ornellas, Mililani, 11.42; 2. Antion Dewalt, PCHS, 11.48; 3. Kalua Noa, Kaiser, 11.62; 4. Eric James, Aiea, 11.64; 5. Joshwa Salvador, Kaimuki, 11.65; 6. Demetrius Thomas, Mililani, 11.69.
Boys 1,500-meter run
1. Dawson Vordebruegger, Kaiser, 4:16.55; 2. Louis Torres, Moanalua, 4:22.78; 3. Paul Williams, Leilehua, 4:24.86; 4. Dexter Monroe, Moanalua, 4:26.25; 5. Trevor Wong, Kaiser, 4:29.43; 6. Christian Putegnat, Campbell, 4:30.36.
Boys 4x100-meter relay
1. Mililani (Peter Poentis, Kawika Ornellas, Demetrius Thomas, Fred Culp), 43.57; 2, Radford, 44.09; 3. Kaiser, 44.48; 4. Kahuku, 44.76; 5. Kapolei, 44.89; 6. Waipahu, 46.16.
Boys 400-meter dash
1. Eric James, Aiea, 51.31; 2. Gen Priest, Kapolei, 52.63; 3. Ryan Nupen, Mililani, 52.74; 4. Kyle Blair, Radford, 52.97; 5. Harrison Miguel, Waipahu, 53.51; 6. Ikaika Kamaka, Radford, 53.73.
Boys 300-meter hurdles
1. D'Andre Benjamin, Mililani, 39.93; 2. Ethan Rista, Castle, 40.53; 3. Stan Nakasone, Kahuku, 41.65; 4. Nathan Blue, Radford, 42.62; 5. Hansen Ho, Kapolei, 42.97; 6. James Ancog, Kalaheo, 43.21.
Boys 800-meter run
1. Joshua Bay, Leilehua, 2:03.35; 2. Nick Ogata, Mililani, 2:04.14; 3. Craig Kandler, Kaiser, 2:04.65; 4. Chris Piadade, Mililani, 2:05.02; 5. Alan Akagi, Leilehua, 2:05.20; 6. Andrew Frazier, Aiea, 2:06.86.
Boys 200-meter dash
1. Antion Dewalt, Pearl City, 22.74; 2. Jon Cummings, Kahuku, 23.18; 3. Kawika Ornellas, Mililani, 23.30; 4. Eric James, Aiea, 23.32; 5. Donniqtay Campbell, Radford, 23.52; 6. Demetrius Thomas, Mililani, 23.63.
Boys 3,000-meter run
1. Bryce Jenkins, Leilehua, 9:21.59; 2. Kensuke Taylor, Kailua, 9:37.83; 3. Dawson Vordebruegger, Kaiser, 9:50.36; 4. Tomoyuki Miura, Roosevelt, 9:51.27; 5. Andrew Atangan, Radford, 9:52.73; 6. Jon Chun, Leilehua, 9:56.48.
Boys 4x400-meter relay
1. Mililani (Ryan Nupen, Fred Culp, D'Andre Benjamin, Sean Piano), 3:31.55; 2. Waipahu, 3:34.27; 3. Castle, 3:36.55; 4. Kahuku, 3:36.98; 5. Leilehua, 3:40.64; 6. Kapolei, 3:41.17.
Boys high jump
1. Lawrence Britt, Campbell, 6-0; 2. Randall Cagaoan, Roosevelt, 5-10; 3. Ziggy Muramoto, Farrington, 5-8; 4. Sean Kenigton, Leilehua, 5-8; 4. Kai Kahanamoku, Kaiser, 5-8; 6. Andrew Longboy, Mililani, 5-6; 6. Aldrin Valdez, Radford, 5-6; 6. Aaremy Palomares, Leilehua, 5-6.
Boys pole vault
1. Cameron Daugherty, Mililani, 13-6; 2. Steven Bolosan-Shenn, Moanalua, 12-6; 3. Zachary Yokoyama, Roosevelt, 12-0; 3. George Bugarin, Moanalua, 12-0; 5. Tyler Diamond, Mililani, 11-6; 6. Martin Santana, Radford, 11-0.
Boys long jump
1. Eric James, Aiea, 22-4; 2. Peter Poentis, Mililani, 21-0.75; 3. D'Andre Benjamin, Mililani, 21-0; 4. Jonathan Fukui, Pearl City, 20-10; 5. George Bugarin, Moanalua, 20-7.50; 6. Kalua Noa, Kaiser, 20-6.25.
Boys triple jump
1. Gen Priest, Kapolei, 41-8.75; 2. Hieu Nguyen, Moanalua, 41-7.50; 3. Alexander Fowler, Roosevelt, 41-4.25; 4. Rashaad Battle, Campbell, 41-1.50; 5. Vincent Chianese, Roosevelt, 40-10.75; 6. Robert Donley, Waipahu, 40-9.25.
Boys discus throw
1. Sosaia Vaitai, Waianae, 169-0; 2. Paipai Falemalu, Kahuku, 143-8; 3. Sunia Vaitai, Waianae, 140-4; 4. Matthew Masifilo, Campbell, 139-11; 5. Elisara Esera, Farrington, 138-8; 6. Richard Nansen, Waianae, 138-4.
Varsity GIRLS
Team scores
1. Mililani, 120; 2. Kahuku, 78; 3. Radford, 47.50; 4. Kaiser, 47; 5. Kapolei, 36; 6. Kalani, 33; 7. Pearl City, 23; 8. Waipahu, 22; 9. Roosevelt, 19.50; 10. Waianae, 18.
Girls 100-meter hurdles
1. Tajana Santiago, Kahuku, 16.69; 2. Kharyse Thompson, Radford, 17.02; 3. Shynequa Bell, Radford, 17.11; 4. Misha Jones, Waianae, 17.20; 5. Chanel Anderson, Radford, 17.47; 6. Cordray Vorderbruegge, Kaiser, 18.10.
Girls 100-meter dash
1. Britney Stephens, Mililani, 12.67; 2. Tamara McGee, Kapolei, 12.69; 3. Yasmina Taketa, Kalani, 12.99; 4. Helanica Nautu, Kahuku, 13.25; 5. Tahnee Dudoit, Roosevelt, 13.53; 6. Leilani Speer, Kahuku, 13.54.
Girls 1,500-meter run
1. Savannah Lowrie, Leilehua, 5:12.27; 2. Leialoha Bratton, Kaiser, 5:12.29; 3. Dayna Domingo, Pearl City, 5:13.29; 4. Nicole Painter, Mililani, 5:14.78; 5. Kristin Ali Keith, Mililani, 5:18.16; 6. Kelli Ishihara, Mililani, 5:20.61.
Girls 4x100-meter relay
1. Mililani (Ciara Quarles, Chanelle Senas, Britney Stephens, Jasmine Pratt), 50.05; 2. Kahuku, 50.98; 3. Kapolei, 51.68; 4. Moanalua, 52.98; 5. Roosevelt, 53.15; 6. Kaiser, 53.15.
Girls 400-meter dash
1. Yasmina Taketa, Kalani, 61.77; 2. Ciara Quarles, Mililani, 62.34; 3. Demetria Woods, Radford, 62.70; 4. Victoria Black, Kapolei, 63.54; 5. Tahnee Dudoit, Roosevelt, 64.59; 6. Malie Monteilh, Castle, 64.98.
Girls 300-meter hurdles
1. Chanel Anderson, Radford, 48.16; 2. Noelani Roach, Waipahu, 49.38; 3. Isabel Romero, Mililani, 49.46; 4. Cordray Vorderbruegge, Kaiser, 49.74; 5. Misha Jones, Waianae, 50.07; 6. Tajana Santiago, Kahuku, 50.31.
Girls 800-meter run
1. Leialoha Bratton, Kaiser, 2:26.64; 2. Kia Atkins, Radford, 2:28.19; 3. Brooke Brown, Mililani, 2:29.69; 4. Amy Hunt, Mililani, 2:33.35; 5. Mary Rose De Vera, Leilehua, 2:36.06; 6. Noel Hakoda, Mililani, 2:38.19.
Girls 200 meter dash
1. Tamara McGee, Kapolei, 25.69; 2. Britney Stephens, Mililani, 25.70; 3. Yasmina Taketa, Kalani, 26.88; 4. Helanica Nautu, Kahuku, 27.41; 5. Ashley Burt, Kahuku, 27.85; 6. Jamie Lee, Kalani, 28.26.
Girls 3,000-meter run
1. Kristin Ali Keith, Mililani, 11:15.76; 2. Dayna Domingo, PCHS, 11:39.47; 3. Keilani Wasson, Kahuku, 11:43.05; 4. Nicole Painter, Mililani, 11:54.99; 5. Nicole Bae, Roosevelt, 12:02.50; 6. Kaualiiliimaikalani Segawa, Leilehua, 12:14.26.
Girls 4x400-meter relay
1. Mililani (Ciara Quarles, Brooke Brown, Laura Bunner, Britney Stephens), 4:08.73; 2. Kapolei, 4:11.95; 3. Radford, 4:15.60; 4. Waipahu, 4:18.42; 5. Kahuku, 4:19.97; 6. Kaiser, 4:21.69.
Girls high jump
1. Noelani Roach, Waipahu, 4-8; 2. Ashlee Fronda, Mililani, 4-6; 2. Ashley Burt, Kahuku, 4-6; 2. Michelle Ip, Kaiser, 4-6; 5. Isabel Romero, Mililani, 4-6; 6. Shannon Johnson, Aiea, 4-6.
Girls pole vault
1. Brittany Lee, Roosevelt, 9-6; 2. Rochelle Lee, Kaiser, 8-0; 3. Michelle Ip, Kaiser, 7-6; 4. Kara Kobayashi, Mililani, 7-6; 5. Sarah Boyer, Kaiser, 7-6; 6. Amy Yeung, Roosevelt, 6-6; 6. Charmaine Tomlinson, Radford, 6-0.
Girls long jump
1. Yasmina Taketa, Kalani, 17-3.25; 2. Jasmine Pratt, Mililani, 16-5; 3. Chanelle Senas, Mililani, 16-1; 4. Tajana Santiago, Kahuku, 15-9.75; 5. Courtney Senas, Mililani, 15-8.25; 6. Jenna Groendyke, Roosevelt, 15-7.50.
Girls triple jump
1. Tajana Santiago, Kahuku, 35-8; 2. Courtney Senas, Mililani, 35-0.25; 3. Tobi Kaneshiro, PCHS, 32-11.75; 4. Chiemi Tano, Moanalua, 32-7.75; 5. Kanani Ducosin, Perl City, 32-5; 6. Ashley Daida, PCHS, 32-0.
Girls discus throw
1. Ilissa Aalona, Kahuku, 125-1; 2. Chevelle Crowell, Kailua, 116-3; 3. Jasmine Taele, Kahuku, 112-3; 4. Teisi Mohulamu, Waianae, 111-7; 5. Agnes Faaleaoga-Maloata, Kailua, 109-8; 6. Vaioleti Mikaele, Kaimuki, 102-8.
Girls shot put
1. Mareta Nuusola, Aiea, 35-3; 2. Teisi Mohulamu, Waianae, 34-8.50; 3. Vaioleti Mikaele, Kaimuki, 34-5.50; 4. Ilissa Aalona, Kahuku, 33-4; 5. Junitta Fonoti, Farrington, 33-1; 6. Tianatamaitai Manuma, Radford, 33-1.
