LIHUE — Mallori Richardson, a senior at Kauai Christian Academy, was anxious about the Kauai Interscholastic Federation track and field championships. “This is nerve-wracking,” Richardson said while warming up for the discus throw at Vidinha Stadium Friday night. “My average
LIHUE — Mallori Richardson, a senior at Kauai Christian Academy, was anxious about the Kauai Interscholastic Federation track and field championships.
“This is nerve-wracking,” Richardson said while warming up for the discus throw at Vidinha Stadium Friday night. “My average through the season has been 69 feet, 8.5 inches. My goal tonight is to break 70 feet. This is nerve-wracking, but it’s good to get the jitters out of the way (during warm-ups).”
Richardson’s second throw sailed through the crisp evening air, clanging to earth at 70 feet, 8 inches, surpassing her personal goal.
This was the first year KCA has participated in the KIF, and finished out of the running for points in the team rankings.
Kauai High School girls took the team rankings with 196 points followed closely by the Kapaa girls at 168 points. Waimea High School women finished with 63 points followed by Island School girls racking up 38 points.
On the boys arena, Kapaa High School boys topped the team rankings with 179.50 points followed by Kauai boys with 164.50 points. Waimea boys filled in third at 78 points followed by the Island School Voyagers at 34 points.
Josh Miller topped the Voyagers’ accomplishments, pushing to a first finish in the 800 meter run at 2:04.02, not enough to best the KIF record set by Pierce Murphy, but good enough for a state consideration standard.
Kapaa, in securing first place for the boys team, saw Jonah Stokes get a consideration jump at 19-09.50 in the long jump, challenged by Kauai’s Maddison Leanio clearing 19-08.00, another consideration leap.
Kapaa’s Rafael Roslin cleared 39-03.75 for a consideration leap in the boys triple jump to lead that field, and on the track, Kapaa’s Trestin Alfiler set the standard in the 110 meter hurdles with a consideration run of 16.69.
Kauai’s first finish in the boys 4×100 meter relay stopped the clock at 45.40 for another consideration run.
In the girls arena, two state auto qualifying performances highlighted the action when Kauai’s Kaena Kaohelauli‘i stopped the clock at 12.84 in the 100 meter dash, and Kapaa’s Asianna Nelson, missing any state time in the 100 meter hurdles, topped the 300 meter hurdles with an auto qualifying 48.24 in her first finish.
Kaohelauli‘i also copped a consideration run with her first finish in the 200 meter dash (27.29) and secured a consideration spot with her 15-08.50 first finish leap in the long jump.
Kapaa’s Brianna Binder led the way for four consideration runs in the 100 meter hurdles when she stopped the clock in first place at 16.87, followed by Waimea’s Monique Joy Lorenzo (16.91), Leann Lopez (17.23), and Kauai’s Anaiah Christensen (18.00).
Christensen also added consideration performances in the high jump where she cleared 4-10.00 for second place below Kapaa’s Heather Faretta (5-00.00), and first place in the triple jump (32-10.25).
Kauai girls led the way in the 4×100 meter relay with its 53.67 run followed by Waimea (53.79) and Kapaa (54.09).
Kapaa flip-flopped the order in the 4×400 with its consideration performance of 4:27.18 followed by Kauai getting a 4:35.20.
Kapaa rounded out its state consideration accomplishments when Paea Tafea, unable to attend the KIF title meet due to a church camp, topped the shot put with a 33-06.50 placement, and the discus throw with a 101-02.50 toss.
Kauai’s Taegan Keep came in second with a 31-10.00 placement in the shot put for a state consideration.
Richardson’s excitement continued despite KCA not collecting any team points.
“I had a personal best in the 400 meter run (1:24.50) to add to the discus,” Richardson said following the meet. “It’s a good way to end the season.”
Chris Cullen, the KCA athletic director and coach, said it’s a shame Mallori is already a senior because she missed out on the competitive experience.
The Island Movers Hawaii High School Athletic Association state track and field championships will be held at the Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama campus, May 6-7 on Oahu.
