KEALAKEKUA – The BIIF track and field championships kicked off at Konawaena High School on Friday afternoon. While most events were just in there preliminary phase, the girls pole vault and boys high jump highlighted the day with finals.
Both events provided a lot of competition and spectacular finishes.
In the girls pole vault, Waiakea’s Monique Apuakehau out-jumped teammate Darien Calicdan, while also clearing 11-feet, which was not only a meet record, but also tied a school record.
“It feels great, especially since it is a personal record,” Apuakehau said. “I had the mindset of knowing I could do it and all I had to do was push myself and keep a strong mind. It is a big accomplishment for me.”
Apuakehau’s previous best jump entering the BIIF championships was 10-6. Calicdan finished second after clearing 10-0. Hawaii Prep’s Rowan Kotner, Tori Greco Hiranaka and Noor Sarwar rounded out the top five with vaults of 9-0, 8-6 and 7-6, respectively.
In the boys high jump, four gravity-defying athletes cleared 5-6, but all three struggled at the next notch up. Pahoa’s Alex Kekahuna, Konawaena’s Reyson Ching and Waiakea’s Isaiah DeSilva all knocked off the bar on their third attempt at 5-8.
Keaau’s Maurice Smith was the final jumper up and he was looking at a possible fourth place finish based off missed attempts if he did not clear the bar. Smith leaped over the bar but it wasn’t a clean finish as he nicked the it on the back end. The bar wobbled but stayed intact and Smith managed to clear the mat for the victory.
“I was just focused and determined to win,” Smith said. “I knew if I didn’t pull it off I would finish fourth because at 5-6 it took three attempts for me to clear.”
Smith noticed the bar wobbling and was internally trying to will it to stay in place.
“It was pretty scary when I landed on the mat for a couple of seconds,” Smith said.
Based on missed attempts Smith was followed by DeSilva, Kekahuna, and then Ching.
The finals for all over events will be held at Konawaena on Saturday. A senior walk will opening the meet at 2:05 p.m. Field events will start at 3 p.m. and running events will follow at 4 p.m. The last event, the 1,600 relay is set to start at 7:20 p.m.
