The Kaua’i Red Raiders won both the varsity boys and varsity mixed races to nix what was a Kapa’a dominated paddling league at the KIF Championship meet Saturday afternoon. The Red Raider boys took the lead late in the the
The Kaua’i Red Raiders won both the varsity boys and varsity mixed races to nix what was a Kapa’a dominated paddling league at the KIF Championship meet Saturday afternoon.
The Red Raider boys took the lead late in the the game to clinch the win over the Warriors in three-minutes and twenty eight seconds (1/2 mile). The win boosts the boys to six total points, which equals Kapa’a’s league total. Since they got the win in the championship race, the Red Raiders clinch the KIF Title and head to the State Championships next Saturday, March 2. The Kapa’a boys will also head to states, but will be seated lower than Kaua’i.
It was a winner takes all between the Warriors and Red Raiders in the mixed race event.
Both teams were tied with three-points in the league standings going into Saturday’s meet, and whoever crossed the line first notched the KIF Mixed Title. In a scorcher to the end, the Red Raiders came out on top, winning with the time of three-minutes, fifty-three seconds. Like the boys, Kapa’a will still send a mixed team along with the champion Red Raiders to states.
Kaua’i wasn’t so lucky in the girls event. The Kapa’a Warrior girl’s paddling team fought hard down the stretch and sealead the victory (4:14.25). The win boosts their league standings total to six points – one point better than Kaua’i.
The Red Raiders will not send a girls team to the State Championships.
The Waimea Menehunes finished with one point for the girls; 0 points for the boys and 0 points for the mixed events.
The short three-season league was the first of its kind here on the island of Kaua’i. The rumor is Kula and Island School want in on the competition, and the KIF will most likely develop competitively as it matures.
But so far, so good.
