STATE GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
Kamehameha edges Punahou to win title
Punahou took the race, but Kamehameha won the title.
The Warriors captured their first girls team championship at the Island Movers/HHSAA State Track and Field Championships last night.
Kamehameha clinched the title with a close second-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay, breaking the four-year title run of Punahou.
The Buffanblu team of Sydney Meheula, Julianna Brown, Mari Carmichael and Lahaina Zoller took the 4x400 in 4:01.36, just nipping the Warrior foursome of Noe Mikami, Courtney Honda, Alana Meditz and Ashlee Jimenez, who finished in 4:02.84.
"It feels great," said Jimenez, who anchored the Warriors. "We made history!"
Punahou jumped to an early lead as Buffanblu senior Leigh Martel won the pole vault, clearing 10-3. But Kamehameha senior Charmaine Mokiao helped the Warriors stay close by defending her title in the shot put with a throw of 39-9 1/2.
"This was the year we've been building toward," said girls head coach Gail Murakami. "We've been building the program, and the girls have just bought into our philosophy."
Kamehameha's Kanani Herring won the high jump, finishing ahead of Hawaii Prep's Erika Cushnie, clearing 5-3 on fewer attempts. Though she fell short of her attempt to set a state record, the University of Hawaii volleyball commit enjoyed her first year competing in the event.
"(In track) you don't have teammates to get that dig or that extra play," Herring said. "The whole focus is on you. I never had so much butterflies in my stomach."
Kahuku finished third with 46 points, led by freshman Zhane Santiago, who won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, and the triple jump. The freshman's 30-point total outscored 29 teams.
Youth was served throughout the meet on the girls side as freshman phenoms stole the show.
Bailey Massenburg, a junior sprite from King Kekaulike, doubled in the 800- and 1,500-meter runs.
The 5-foot-3 runner turned it on in the final lap of the 1,500 to pull away from Kamehameha-Maui's Ka'ahumanu Rozet, winning easily in 5:17.47.
Seabury Hall freshman Kailea Tracy-Visintainer also doubled, speeding to victory in the 400-meter race at 56.98 and the 200 in 25.06, just .02 off the meet record.
"I was just running to win," she said. "I didn't expect to get my best time."
Kalani's Yasmina Taketa defended her long jump title, leaping 18-5 1/2 on her second attempt, to the delight of a sizable group of supporters.
"I've been wanting to get 18 (feet) this whole year," she said.
Kauai's Tiffany Ikeda-Simao claimed the 100-meter dash in 12.38, finishing just ahead of Waianae's Ciara Quarles (12.72).
"I'm happy to win it," said the Red Raiders senior. "It's my fastest time so far," she said.
Ikeda-Simao teamed with sisters Kelsey and Kathleen Cadiente and Jamilee Jimenez to take the 4x100 meter relay in 49.03, holding off Radford and falling just .11 short of the state record.
