Waimea’s Troy Yamase and Kaua‘i’s Chelsea Smith-Wishard are the favorites in their respective events, as the Island Movers/HHSAA State Track and Field Championships get underway tomorrow on the campus of Kamehameha Schools (Kapalama). Smith-Wishard holds the states top time by
Waimea’s Troy Yamase and Kaua‘i’s Chelsea Smith-Wishard are the favorites in their respective events, as the Island Movers/HHSAA State Track and Field Championships get underway tomorrow on the campus of Kamehameha Schools (Kapalama).
Smith-Wishard holds the states top time by over four seconds in the 1,500 meters, but Yamase’s margin is much smaller in the 100 meters (10.84). The junior also qualified for states in the 400, 800, and 3,000 meters.
Teammate Kenny Estes has the states third best time (10.94). The senior is also seeded fifth in the 200 meters.
Other KIF state qualifiers are Kapa‘a’s Nathaniel Langi (discus), Kapa‘a’s Loke Manaku (shot put), Kapa‘a’s Danielle Creamer (shot put), Waimea’s Bailon Batalion (long jump, triple jump), Waimea’s Kollin Morikawa (long jump, triple jump), Kaua‘i’s Tiffany Ikeda-Simao (long jump, 100 meters, 200 meters), Kaua‘i’s Jamilee Jimenez (long jump, triple jump, high jump), Kapa‘a’s Erin Pickett (long jump, high jump), Kaua‘i’s Savannah Rollins (high jump), Waimea’s Chris Newcomb (high jump), Kaua‘i’s Allison Arakaki (100 hurdles), Kapa‘a’s Nahtice Nield (100 & 300 hurdles), Waimea’s Cayla Kitabayashi (100 hurdles), Waimea’s Melia Prinzing (100 hurdles), Waimea’s Nathan Martin (1,500, 3,000 meters), Kaua‘i’s 4×100 relay girls team, Waimea’s 4×100 relay boys team, Kaua‘i’s 4×100 relay boys team, Kaua‘i’s Auika Muragin (alternate, 400 meters), Kaua‘i’s Lauren Riley (300 hurdles), Kaua‘i’s Frank Speetjens (800 meters), Waimea’s Rachel Martin (3,000 meters), Kaua‘i’s Tara McCoy (3,000 meters), and Kaua‘i’s 4×400 relay girls squad.
Kamehameha-O‘ahu is the defending boys state champs and Punahou won last year’s girls state title.
Since 1959, no KIF team has won a state team track and field championship.
Waimea’s 4×100 boys relay team will try to defend its title for the third year in a row.
Last year, the squad (Thomas Batis, Eric Oroc, Kenny Estes, Troy Yamase) set a new state mark with a time of 42.78.
In 2004, Kapa‘a’s Joe Locey broke the record in the 200 (21.90).
No KIF girl holds a state record. The finals of the 2006 championships are on Saturday.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
