Clubs from the Kauai Outrigger Association competed in the 2017 Hawaii Canoe Racing Association State Championship this past weekend on Maui. Crews from two KOA clubs won gold medals at the state regatta. Niumalu Canoe Club won first place in
Clubs from the Kauai Outrigger Association competed in the 2017 Hawaii Canoe Racing Association State Championship this past weekend on Maui.
Crews from two KOA clubs won gold medals at the state regatta.
Niumalu Canoe Club won first place in the Girls 12-and-under race with a time of 2 mintues, 04.74 seconds. Crew members are Laule’a Asano, Neva Burkart, Karlie Carvalho, Alexia Cruz, Mekayla Finch and Eleiah Gouveia-McCarthy.
“Last year, they went to states. I forgot what they got last year, but that’s what motivated them to come back this year and try to win at states,” said Niumalu CC coach Raymond Serquina on Tuesday.
Serquina said he’s worked with some of the 12U girls since they were 10 years old. To see them win gold at states, he said, was very gratifying.
“I got emotional, but I try not to cry,” he said. “It’s emotional because, from watching them from when they was little until now, it’s like — they worked very hard for what they got.”
Hanalei Canoe Club won gold in the Women Open 4 race with a time of 4 minutes, 37.50 seconds. The winning crew members are Lahela Correa, Lilinoe Forrest, Ka’ui Fu and Sarah Zietz.
This was the third-consecutive Women Open 4 first place finish for Hanalei CC and its fourth win since 2012.
Fu said the Women Open 4 race at states is especially meaningful, and not just because of the winning streak.
“I think this year, of course the pressure was on because won last year and (the year before). It’s one of the races our club is known for winning,” she said Tuesday. “That race is special to our club because Lilinoe, her mom used to race that race and won it multiple times while she was alive. She’s passed now … It’s kind of our way of upholding that tradition and honoring her.”
Other KOA club results from the HCRA State Championships are:
Puuwai Canoe Club: third in Boys 12U (1:59.14)
Koloa Canoe Club: third in Mixed 12U (2:07.32); 13th in Boys 16U (5:07.39)
Niumalu Canoe Club: sixth in Girls 13U (2:08.05); fourth in Girls 14U (2:05.25); 11th in Boys 14U (1:58.90); sixth in Girls 15U (4:48.37); disqualified in Boys 15U; 12th in Boys 16U (4:39.61); fourth in Girls 18U (4:41.86); disqualified in Boys 18U
Hokualele Canoe Club: sixth in Boys 13U (2:02.38)
Kilohana Canoe Club: 11th in Girls 14U (2:16.33); fifth in Boys 14U (1:51.24); eighth in Girls 16U (5:05.09); fifth in Boys 18U (8:55.84)
Kukuiula Canoe Club: fifth in Women Novice A (4:46.60)
Hanalei Canoe Club: third in Women Golden Masters 55 (4:41.91); 12th in Men Golden Masters 55 (4:31.05); scratch in Women Senior Masters 50; sixth in Mixed Masters 55 (4:22.30)
Namolokama Canoe Club: eighth in Senior Women Masters 50 (4:55.76)
Full results at www.hcrapaddler.com.
