Kula School strong in KIF Regatta

WAILUA — Kapa‘a earned first place in the second of the KIF paddling regattas, but not without having to stave off a strong effort from Kula School.

Kula finished the day with two first-place finishes in the finals followed by Kapa‘a walking off with a first, second and third finish. Kula finished with 18 points, tying Waimea for second.

Kaua‘i filled in third place with 14 points followed by Island School with 8 points.

The Warriors earned their second straight victory Saturday with a 27-point showing, but had the Kula School paddlers breathing down their necks in two of the three final races.

Kapa‘a topped the Varsity Mixed finals on a 3:53.63 showing with the Kula paddlers stopping the clock less than four seconds back at 3:57.51.

Waimea finished third in that final with a 4:09.38 run down the half-mile course.

Kula (3:38.49) pulled off a close first finish in the Varsity Boys competition by beating out Kapa‘a (3:39.49) by just a little more than a second.

These tight races held in the qualifying heats when Kula (3:54.18) topped Kapa‘a (3:58.24) only to have the order reverse in the finals.

The tight competition was previewed in the Varsity Boys’ qualifier as Kula (3:34.07) topped Kapa‘a (3:38.29).

Waimea finished third in the Varsity Boys competition on a 3:42.16 ride.

Kula topped the Varsity Girls competition with a 4:13.38 run followed by Kaua‘i High School finishing with a 4:17.34. Kapa‘a filled in third place on a 4:23.32 run.

In the JV competition, Kapa‘a topped the Girls (4:32.01) and the Mixed (4:10.83). The junior Warriors were second in the Boys (4:01.16) class.

Waimea topped the JV boys (3:56.57) and finished second in the Mixed (4:11.81).

Kaua‘i ended second in the JV Girls (4:32.63) and third in the Mixed (4:12.79).

Island School picked up a third in the JV Girls (4:55.68) and the JV Boys (4:06.97).

The next KIF regatta is Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at Wailua River.