Although he’s far away from Kaua’i, nestled nicely in Southern California still enjoying his track and field days, former Farrington and state sprint champion, Joshua Villoria is still keeping his eyes open to what’s happening in his home state, including
Although he’s far away from Kaua’i, nestled nicely in Southern California still enjoying his track and field days, former Farrington and state sprint champion, Joshua Villoria is still keeping his eyes open to what’s happening in his home state, including Kaua’i.
On Saturday, Villoria voiced his opinion on the postponement of the KIF’s first meet of the season.
“This is very inappropriate for something like this to be delayed,” Villoria wrote in an e-mail.
The Azusa Pacific University track athlete was the 2005 state 100 meter champion, where he ran in the wet conditions on Maui.
“More recently, we had a meet where it was pouring hard and we still ran through the rain. Rain should not be an element when it comes to track and field,” Villoria said.
Villoria ran with Kapa’a’s Joe Locey, and Waimea’s Kenny Estes and Troy Yamase last year, under the tutelage of Menehune coach Dave Walker for a shot at a U.S. Track and Field title.
However, the foursome barely missed out on a qualifying time.
According to Walker, Villoria had great rapport with the KIF athletes and was of great help to the team.
“An athlete should push past all the elements in front of him/her. It’s just another hurdle you have to jump over, it’s just another obstacle you have to get past. Rain should not be a factor in any track meet,” Villoria said.
When he was on the island, he got word that the Vidinha Stadium cinder track would be changed to a rubberized surface and he made sure to tell the KIF athletes about his great experiences on the “faster” surface.
The Mayor’s Invitational will begin on Friday at 4 p.m.
Make-up meet set for today
By The Garden Island
The first track meet on the new rubberized track at Vidinha Stadium will take place this afternoon starting at about 4 p.m.
That announcement was confirmed by coaches of the Kaua’i High School track team who were practicing on the new facility Monday afternoon.
The meet is the make-up of an earlier meet that was called off due to rain on Friday.
