WAILUA — Waimea High School outrigger paddling teams placed first in three of the six classes run during the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation paddling championships on Saturday at the Wailua River.
Menehune teams finished first in the junior varsity girls race after the Island School team was disqualified for burying the flag at the turn of the one-half mile course. The Menehune also finished first in the varsity girls, and the varsity mixed division races.
But when the dust settled and the points were tabulated, the Menehune earned titles in just the varsity mixed division where thy finished with 23/33 points. Second place in varsity mixed belonged to Island School with 17/23 points, and Kapa‘a High School with 10.12 points.
Island School, despite finishing second in the varsity girls preliminary heat, outpointed the Menehune for the category title on 21/27 points to Waimea’s 16/26 showing. Kapa‘a girls took third place on 10/12 points followed by Kaua‘i girls at 8/12 points.
The Voyagers also outpointed the field to capture the JV girls title despite the DQ on the championship paddle. The JV Voyager girls accumulated 22/24 points over the Menehune JV girls, who finished with 16/26 points for runner up. Kaua‘i JV girls finished with 9/15 points over Kapa‘a’s 8/12 points.
Kapa‘a High School varsity boys claimed that category title with 23/33 points after ending the championship regatta with a strong first finish in the preliminary heat that stopped the clock at 3 minutes, 43.46 seconds. Second place in the varsity boys belonged to the Menehune with 12/18 points. Third place honors went to Island School, which finished with 11 points. Kaua‘i High School finished with 8/12 points.
Waimea varsity mixed, with its strong championship regatta run that was nearly 4 seconds faster than the No. 2 team during the finals, went home with the varsity mixed crown on 23/33 points. Runner-up in the class went to Island School, which finished the season with 17/23 points, and Kapa‘a High School with 10/12 points. Kaua‘i High School finished with 5/9 points.
The KIF championship varsity mixed, varsity girls, and varsity boys teams advance to the 2023 Hawaiian Airlines Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association canoe paddling championships that will be contested on Feb. 4 at Ke‘ehi Lagoon on O‘ahu.
Results
Junior varsity girls: Kapa‘a A 4:44.53, Island A 4:34.25 (DQ), Kaua‘i A 4:44.43, Waimea A 4:41.92, Kaua‘i B 5:10.02.
Junior varsity boys: Kapa‘a A 4:03.29, Kaua‘i A 4:02.76; Kapa‘a B 4:09.19.
Junior varsity mixed: Kaua‘i A 4:12.47, Waimea A 4:39.74, Island A 4:32.96, Kapa‘a A 4:25.65; Kapa‘a B 4:23.26, Kaua‘i B 4:21.59, Kaua‘i C 4:40.51.
Pre varsity girls: Island A 4:15.47, Waimea A 4:08.19, Kaua‘i A 4:18.07, Kapa‘a A 4:19.09; Kaua‘i B 4:40.61, Waimea B 4:43.49.
Pre varsity boys: Kaua‘i A 3:46.49 (DQ), Waimea A 3:46.01, Kapa‘a A 3:43.46; Kaua‘i B 4:02.67.
Pre varsity mixed: Kaua‘i A 4:09.00, Island A 4:03.57, Waimea A 3:59.33, Kapa‘a A 4:15.14; Kapa‘a B 4:17.22, Waimea B 4:30.68, Kaua‘i B 4:21.59.
Varsity girls finals: Kaua‘i B 4:10.78, Waimea A 3:52.74, Kapa‘a A 3:46.58.
Varsity boys finals: Kaua‘i A 4:14.52, Island A 4:11.43, Waimea A 4:07.53.
Varsity mixed finals: Kaua‘i A 4:08.78, Island A 3:58.04, Waimea A 3:54.24.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
