WAILUA — Kaua‘i High School varsity mixed paddlers made it to the top Saturday. After coming close at last week’s Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation regatta, Kaua‘i kept its nose pointed straight and topped the varsity mixed division on the top end.
WAILUA — Kaua‘i High School varsity mixed paddlers made it to the top Saturday.
After coming close at last week’s Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation regatta, Kaua‘i kept its nose pointed straight and topped the varsity mixed division on the top end.
Kapa‘a, winners of that division for the past three weeks, came out of the turn ahead of Kaua‘i, but not by much. The Warriors’ mixed team had a slight lead heading back on the final 1/4-mile course, but the heads-down steady stroking by the Raiders paid off as that team crossed the finish line first.
The Raiders’ mixed team clocked a 3:58.94 run in the finals, bettering its 4:01.20 performance in the preliminaries, while the Warriors slipped past the finish flags at 4:06.15, slowing down from its 3:59.17 run in the preliminaries, where it finished first. Waimea crossed the line at 4:20.78.
But Kapa‘a swept the junior varsity races and topped the varsity girls division as its team crossed the finish line at 4:07.68 followed by Kaua‘i (4:14.29) and Waimea (4:42.24).
In the JV girls event, Kapa‘a topped the field with its A team clocking 4:12.62 followed by Kaua‘i (4:18.60) and Waimea (4:27.51), the Kapa‘a B team finishing about two seconds back at 4:29.53 for fourth place.
Kapa‘a filled in the No. 1 and 2 slots for the JV mixed division as its A team stopped the clocks at 4:08.27 followed by its B team at 4:19.73 with Kaua‘i (4:24.04) filling in third place.
Kapa‘a also monopolized the JV boys division on a 4:00.80 run although Kaua‘i and Waimea both fielded unofficial teams that ran exhibition paddles this week. Kaua‘i finished at 4:05.80 followed by Waimea (4:26.59).
Kapa‘a also exerted a strong challenge in the varsity boys division as it finished just .31 second short of first. Kaua‘i boys remain undefeated with its first place paddle of 3:40.43, bettering its preliminary heat performance of 3:41.37.
Kapa‘a followed at 3:40.74, a strong improvement from its preliminary run of 3:43.26. Waimea (3:59.59) filled in third place, another strong improvement from its preliminary run of 4:09.72.
The Kapa‘a varsity girls got a strong challenge from the Kaua‘i team in the preliminaries, taking first by just .24 seconds.
But in the final heat, Kapa‘a dominated the class on a 4:07.68 paddle, a strong improvement over its preliminary heat showing of 4:14.07. Kaua‘i followed at 4:14.29, only a slight improvement from its 4:14.31 showing in the prelims.
Waimea rounded out the field on a 4:42.24 performance.
This Saturday is the KIF Island Championships at the Wailua River. Due to testing, the regatta will start at 2 p.m., hosted by Kapa‘a High School.
