Back for an encore run

By WAYNE JOSEPH

Tribune-Herald correspondent

Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s state champion cross country team is back — en masse — for track.

After helping the Ka Makani unseat Punahou in the 3-mile final in the fall, Zoe Sims and Kristiana Van Pernis lead the charge for a talented distance squad heading into Saturday’s dual Big Island Interscholastic Federation track and field openers.

Coach Pat Lau has the luxury of having the entire cross country squad at his disposal as the HPA girls try to defend its league title.

“Our strength will be with our distance girls in events of 400 meters and above,” the veteran Ka Makani coach said. “We return a young but experienced girls team.”

Sims was one four BIIF athletes to win championships at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association track and field finals last season — she was joined by HPA’s Shane Brostek, Kamehameha’s Aukai Akau and Konawaena’s Ua Ruedy — claiming the 1,500 after winning that event and the 400 at BIIFs. Van Pernis won the 800 at BIIFs and placed in both the 1,500 and 800 at states.

HPA also will have two experienced hurdlers in Emily Evans and Katie Case as well plenty of depth with 47 participants.

“This year we have another big team … (in) pole vault alone will have 11 athletes, with only four having experience,” Lau said.

Sydney Budde and Taylor Esaki, were second and third, respectively, in pole vault at BIIFs. Hilo’s Shina Chung will try for her fourth league title in that event.

Brostek, a double state winner in the shot put and discus, headlines the boys squad.

“Our senior leader is Kayden Haleakala in the pole vault and sprints,” Lau said. “We expect a few surprises in the hurdles and jumps with our young boys.”

Konawaena, meanwhile, received good news when Lia Galdeira, a quadruple BIIF champion last season, decided to compete once again.

Waiakea won the boys crown last year and returns most of its squad.

Coaches Mary Jane Tominaga and Lance Tominaga are banking on thrower Mauna Palama-Danielson (third in the discus, second in shot put at BIIFs); runners Jackson Halford (second, 800); Keoni Rice (third, 800) and Ian McQuate; Michael Morikawa (third, 300 hurdles; second, triple jump) and Kevin Nicolas (fourth, 300 hurdles) in the hurdles and jumps; and Colton Austria in sprints.

“We have about 40 athletes on the boys side and we expect some of our new additions to be key contributors to this year’s team,” Mary Jane Tominaga said. “We feel the team will be competitive. We have the depth to field athletes in every event except for pole vault.”

The Lady Warriors have smaller numbers with 15, but key contributors will be defending BIIF 3,000 champion Kelsie Kobayashi, Haley Rasse (third, 800) and sprinter Teisha Nacis.

Around the rest BIIF:

• Keaau: The Cougars have 77 athletes, but coach Vicky Chai-Guerpo says many are young and the talent is raw.

“Our goal is to be a ‘brotherhood’ caring about each other and if we accomplish this, then (success) may follow,” Chai-Guerpo said.

In addition to defending league pole vault champion Nelson Enos, the Cougars will rely on the experience of a sprint core that includes Jesse Huihui (second, 100; third, 200), Alexander Engdahl (second, 300 hurdles; fourth, 100 dash) and Damien Packer as well as Joey Aquino (third, high jump), Talon Ota (fourth, 400) and Cliff Ericksson in jumps and hurdles.

Sprinter Randi Estrada (second, 200) and distance runner Deann Nishimura-Thornton lead the girls squad.

• Hilo: In addition to Chung, Carmen Garson-Shumway finished runner-up in both the 800 and 1,500 last season.

On the boys side, Zack Atagi was runner-up in the discus.

“Our boys had a good turnout but almost all are new guys so we don’t know what we have yet,” coach Bill McMahon said. “We are going to try to be competitive.”

• Honokaa: Under coach Josh Abner, the Dragons’ strength is distance running. Chayce Moniz was third in the 1,500 and will also run the 3,000, while brothers Robert and Tony Connors will handle the middle distances.

“I also have high expectations for our (1,600-meter relay team) and sprints with the addition of Dylan Oanadasan, Brooks McVey, and Koa Phenice returning,” said Abner, who also metioned Josh Tobias as an athlete to watch.

For the Lady Dragons, Abner has high hopes for Hildhang Adona and Kelly Greenwell in the distance races along with Nahe Lau and Yvonne Daniels in the sprint events.

• Ka’u: The Trojans’ new coach is a familiar face. Kapua Lapera returns to her alma mater after running cross country for the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Alika Kaopua will try to defend his triple jump title, while the girls squad returns one of the island’s fastest sprinters and jumpers in Kristina Padrigo (third, long jump) as well as Marley Strand-Nicolaisen (second, triple jump).

• Kamehameha: Coach Kimo Weaver’s specialty is producing strong hurdlers, though the Warriors must replace defending 110 and 300 champion Everett McKee.

Akau was a double winner (100, long jump) at BIIFs last season before winning the long jump at states. Chelsea Poe will help out in sprints and relays, while Lehua McGuire (fourth, 110 hurdles) handles hurdles, pole vault and relays.

“Our strengths are in the jumps, but we are a young and inexperienced team,” Weaver said. “Our main goal is to simply get better every week and having fun doing it.”

• Konawaena: Coaches Kuulei Saole and Kuulika Taveras have a bevy of firepower, including Galdeira, Ruedy — state champion in the 300 hurdles — and Lita Taumoefolau.

Before she leaves for a basketball scholarship at Washington State, Galdeira will have a chance to defend titles in the 100 and 200 dashes as well as the triple jump and long jump. Ruedy also medaled in four events at BIIFs, while Taumoefolau thrived as a thrower, winning the discus and finishing third in the shot put.

At both Kamehameha and Konawaena on Saturday, field events start at 9 a..m. with running events commencing at 10 a.m.

Note: Coaches at Kealakehe and Kohala could not be reached for this report.