O‘AHU — For the first time in the history of the Jr. Lifeguard program, a neighbor island team has won the state championship and the team to break through to win the team title was our very own, “Team Kaua‘i.”
O‘AHU — For the first time in the history of the Jr. Lifeguard program, a neighbor island team has won the state championship and the team to break through to win the team title was our very own, “Team Kaua‘i.”
The 37 Kaua‘i Jr. Lifeguards finished in first-place at the 13th Annual Jr. Lifeguard State Championships held this past Saturday at Ala Moana Beack Park on O‘ahu, which was invaded with over 200 competitors, with perfect conditions and fierce competition.
Noelani Moeller established the lead from the start when she won the girls 13-14 1000m Run.
Rachel Martin ran for a third-place finish in the girls 15-17 1000m Run, while her fraternal brothers, Nathan and Scott took second and third respectively in the boys 15-17 event.
Together, the triplets nearly tripled the score.
In the girls 13-14 Beach Flags event, Moeller and Kelly Joyce showed their quickness in the sand, bringing home the coveted gold and bronze. Emma Makepa-Foley defended her title as Beach Flags Champion for the girls 15-17 division in dominant fashion, for an unprecedented fourth year in a row, while Kaimi Kaneholani put on a good show for the crowd, taking home the silver medal for the older boys division.
In the girls 13-14 3×100 Run-Swim-Run, Chelsi Lamay-McVay placed second, while in the girls 15-17 division, Jackie Brady finished third. First time competitor Randy Umetsu ran and swam his way to a third place finish in the boys 13-14 3×100 Run-Swim-Run, while Fletcher Parker gave it his all for a silver in the boys 15-17 division.
Kaua‘i’s lead grew as the team showed their depth in the Paddle Board Relay.
Six competitors in each age group battled it out for top honors as Kaneholani, Savase Brede, and Noah Myers, in their final year, along with Adam Gonzalez, Nathan Collier, and Corey Riley sprinted their way to victory as the State Paddle Board Relay Champions.
The other Kaua‘i relay teams all finished in a respectful second-place, to either O‘ahu’s North Shore or West Shore Champions.
In the final event of the day, the 200m Swim, Team Kaua‘i sealed their destiny when swimmer’s from each of the age groups placed in the top six. Camille Brady (girls 13-14) and Randy Umetsu both powered their way to the finish against the state’s best, each coming in a close second, each adding valuable points.
With top six places in each age division in every event, there was no stopping this fine group of teens.
Congratulations to Team Kaua’i, State Jr. Lifeguard Champions for 2004!
Special thanks to the City and County of Honolulu Lifeguards and the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association for inviting Kaua‘i to the competition and for the many wonderful prizes each of the competitors received.
For complete results, see the Scoreboard above.
