By WAYNE JOSEPH
Tribune-Herald correspondent
KEAAU — Three defending state champions sunk their spikes into the all-weather track at Kamehameha to rise to the top of their competition at a Big Island Interscholastic all schools track and field meet held Saturday.
Konawaena’s Lia Galdeira and Ua Ruedy along with Kamehameha’s Aukai Akau distanced themselves from the rest of the league as they prepare to defend their state crowns in three weeks.
Galdeira opened the day running away from the field in the 100 hurdles in a blistering time of 14.8 seconds, then moments later returned to win the 100-meter dash in 12.54.
The amazing Wildcat managed to squeeze in the long jump between the two 100 races, winning with a giant leap of 17-11.75 and finished the day with a triple jump victory of 35-08.5.
The state champion in the 100 hurdles complemented her coaches for much of her track success.
“Our coaches are great, as they know what they are talking about,” Galdeira said. “I wasn’t even going to come out for track this season because I wanted to focus on academics but they convinced me to come out.”
Galdeira needed to get up early to catch the 5 a.m. bus from Kona to Kamehameha and forgot something in the process.
“I forgot to pack my track shorts and just brought this ordinary pair of shorts,” she said. “I think I could have done better had I brought my correct shorts, especially in the long jump,”
Teammate Ruedy brought all the right equipment and dazzled the crowd in the 300 hurdles racing away from the rest of the field.
The defending state champion in the 300 ran a flawless race while looking like a gazelle traversing the obstacles in perfect strides.
“It was okay today because I got a slow start,” Ruedy said. “I know I can improve my time a lot and I need to get out of the blocks quicker and not slow down.”
During the girls long jump, eight girls jumped over 15 feet.
“It shows the level of competition is at an all-time high and at a state level,” said long jump official Jordan Rosado said.
Kamehameha’s Akau was up to his normal patterns in the long jump, fouling in his first two attempts before making the final jump count.
“I know that my first jump is the most important, but I have marks from the previous weeks so I can give my all on every jump,” Akau said.
The defending state champ in the long jump decided to take two steps back on his final jump then unleashed his personal best launching a 22-.75 and in the process setting a new stadium record.
“On my final jump I moved back two steps, but I know that getting a mark on my first jump is most important,” Akau said. “I’m shooting to reach 23 feet by the BIIF championships.”
Akau also started his day winning the 100-meter dash and in the process set a new stadium record at 11.04 seconds.
“I’m still working on being relaxed in the 100,” Akau said. “I tense up and my stride lessens.”
In the 100, Akau was challenged by Keaau’s Jesse Huihui in a battle to the finish.
“Jesse is a great competitor and I felt the urge to push myself harder with him in the race.” Akau said.
The 400 dash saw the return of Kealakehe’s Luca Walter to his first all-schools meet this season.
Walter wasted no time reminding people who the BIIF champion is by clocking a 50.7 second time to place himself as the second best time in the state.
“I want to hit 49 seconds by the BIIF championships,” Walter said. “I need to work on my start out of the blocks to be faster.”
Walter clocked a league leading time in the 800 with a 2:01.87.
“I’m pretty excited with my 800 time and I think I can bring that under two minutes within the next two weeks,” he said.
In the 200 dash, it was Keaau’s Damien Packer winning his second race after taking the 110 hurdles.
“My 200 time can improve if I kick out of the turns better and have faster feet,” Packer said. “I need to get faster and not tense up as much.”
Another defending state champion in the shot put, Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Shane Brostek, was at the Punahou Relays on Oahu and selected most outstanding for winning both the shot and discus.
Running around the oval and not getting much attention is Pahoa sophomore Micah Davis.
Davis, for the past two weeks, has decided to run in every event from the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,500 and 3,000.
“I thought it was amazing that someone who finishes last in every event would have the will power to do all the running events,” Kamehameha coach Ryan Cabalse said.
“I feel like I’d rather run than sit in the bleachers,” Davis said. “I’ve been second to last twice and I beat my times from the week before.”
Davis has a twin brother, Josh, who also runs for the Daggers, but it is Micah that will take on the task of doing every running event that the league has to offer.
“I’m improving each week and I want to get faster,” Micah said. “I do it just for me and not for anyone else.”
The BIIF regular season concludes with an all-schools meet at HPA on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m.
