BIIF track and field: Kamehameha vaulter Lucas DeRego gets a lift of confidence

KEALAKEKUA — Kamehameha’s Lucas DeRego doesn’t like the rain.

But the wet conditions didn’t stop the senior pole vaulter from catapulting up the state rankings on with a confidence-building performance Saturday during a BIIF track and field meet at Konawaena’s Julian Yates Field.

Confidence is something DeRego has struggled with this year. After clearing a personal best 13 feet, 6 inches in his junior year, DeRego had not been able to top 12-6 this year until Saturday, when he cleared 14-feet and made it look easy.

“I have been able to do these jumps in practice but I get nervous for the meets,” DeRego said. “A big problem I have is overthinking everything and questioning myself. Today, I tried not to think to much about the meet.”

His performance earned him the monicker, “Superman” at the meet. The nickname was more than fitting as DeRego continued to go up, up, and away at Konawaena.

DeRego beat his senior season record when he passed 13-00 on his first try. Continuing the trend, he tied his career personal best on the very next attempt. Finally, it took “Superman” only one giant leap to claim 14-00.

At his current clearance height, DeRego finds himself currently tied with Punahou’s Nick Kapula for second in the state. However, the higher seed goes to the vaulter that makes their mark closest to the state meet, so second would currently go to DeRego.

The Kamehameha standout took three tries at 14-06, but could not clear. Baldwin’s Sean Fukuhara currently holds the top spot in state with a clearing height of 14-07.

“It is exciting,” DeRego said after finding out where he stood in the state. “But I have to keep working. I still have to watch the video to see what I can work on.”