Sunrise Athletics members endured two days of less-than-typical weather during the Junior Olympics Track and Field Championships meet on Oahu on July 8-9.
Sunrise Athletics members endured two days of less-than-typical weather during the Junior Olympics Track and Field Championships meet on Oahu on July 8-9.
Gusty winds on the home stretch and bouts of heavy rain were experienced by the Oahu, Maui, and Big Island athletes. However, the downpour was much like a typical day in Hilo for the Big Island harriers, and conditions did not affect their performances.
On the first day of competition, sprinters had to qualify by placing in the top eight in their age division.
Olivia Wells and Sydirah Aricayos were among the talented group of sprinters who qualified for finals.
Wells placed eighth overall in the 100 meter and 200 dashes, while teammate Aricayos placed eighth in the 400 and third in the 100 hurdles.
Among the male hurdlers, middle-school brothers Xander and Skyler Macomber competed in the technical event for the first time.
In their first season of competition, they displayed promise and natural form in the 100 hurdle event and both claimed bronze medals. Xander Macomber also claimed fourth in the long jump.
Among the distance runners, there is a plethora of talent from keiki to high school harriers. Third grader Shane Tominaga increased his distance length to the 800 (3:10.43) race this year.
He utilized his speed and stamina to claim a silver medal by closing in and overtaking a competitor on the final straightaway.
Tominaga earned a bronze medal in the long jump with a leap of 8 feet, 8 3/4 inches.
Among middle school athletes, Ella Johnson (3,000 meters, first place; 1,500, first, 800, second) and Deylan Okinaka (3,000, fourth; 1,500, seventh; 800, fourth), and intermediate teammates John Marrack (3,000, first; 1,500, third; 800, third) and Kederang Ueda (3,000, second; 1,500, second; 800, second) demonstrated that they could do a marathon day of events, like their high school teammates.
This year, the aforementioned athletes muscled through two days of tough competition by competing in the 3,000 meters (shy of three miles) on Friday and had to quickly recover for the quicker-paced 1,500 and 800 race events the next day.
Other middle school athletes earning medals for the top eight places were: Akemi Tominaga (1,500, fifth), Teryn Tominaga (1,500, seventh), and Jaeda Yamasaki (1,500, third; 800, fourth ).
“The high school athletes always lead by example in their performances, leadership, and work ethic,” Sunrise Athletics coach MJ Tominaga said. “They performed great, despite completing a long BIIF track season. Talented harriers such as Saya Yabe and Slater Inouye have been continuing club members that have lead the way and epitomize the true spirit of a runner.
“They capitalized the moment in ending their summer and leading into their cross-country season on a positive note.”
Inouye claimed a double gold in the 3,000 and 1,500 races and was on his way for a third medal before having to sit out from his final event. Yabe claimed the following: 3,000, silver; 1,500, gold; and 800, gold.
Other high school club members who earned medals were: Shaun Kojima (3,000, third; 1,500, second; 800, second) and Eric Cabais-Fernandez (3,000, third; 1,500, third).
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For information about Sunrise Athletics, email sunrise_athletics@hotmail.com.