WAIMEA — Dominant would be an understatement when describing Chenoa Frederick’s performance at the BIIF track and field championships. The Kamehameha sophomore stole the show at the league’s year-end event, collecting six first-place finishes on the way to a meet MVP, while also helping the Warriors clinch their second straight team title.
“Six golds, when do you see that,” said Kamehameha head coach Manly Kanoa. “A performance like that really lifts everyone on the team, but to claim a second title, that was really a combined effort from a bunch of girls.”
Kamehameha took the team title with ease, totaling 123 points. Rounding out the top five were Hilo (89), Waiakea (72), host Hawaii Preparatory Academy (64), Konawaena (60) and Kealakehe (60).
“Saydee (Aganus) and Chenoa were ready coming off the bus and you can’t teach that,” Kanoa said. “But we also picked up some unexpected points today. Girls like Taylor Sullivan, Angeline Kenoi, Joey-Ann Cootey and Tehya Caceres added additional points that padded the score at the end.”
On the boys side, Kealakehe managed to pick up its first ever BIIF title in track and field by edging out Konawaena 126-104. Hilo (89), Kamehameha (53.5) and Waiakea (52.5) wrapped up the top five.
“I can’t even explain what this means for us at this moment,” said Kealakehe head coach Duke Hartfield. “We knew we had a shot coming in and everyone stepped up. We had a lot of guys PR and the coaching staff worked well together. Everyone was focused.”
The meet started off on Friday with Frederick taking center stage. Only a sophomore, Frederick broke her own state record in the triple jump, clearing 41 feet during the trials.
“We were watching from our tent and as soon as she landed it you could tell she knew,” Kanoa said. “When they said the distance she started bouncing around so we knew it was a big number. We thought it was 40, which would have been pretty good, but then I went down there and they said 41. It was bigger than we thought.”
Frederick went on to claim the triple jump title, her first of the meet. She followed that performance the next day with five more gold medals.
On the second day of the meet, Frederick started off with the long jump.
“I did not get a good warm-up, which was rough,” Frederick said. “I extended my run up and I felt like I did all right considering the conditions.”
Frederick took first in the long jump with a distance of 18 feet, 4.25 inches — a meet record. She outdistanced her teammate Aganus, who settled for the silver at 17-09.
The conditions were all over the place at the meet, with Frederick calling the weather a little “bi-polar.”
“This weather,” she said. “It’s hot, then cold, then freezing, then blazing.”
The weather did not seem to slow Frederick down as she earned her second gold of the day and third of the meet as she started the track portion of the meet. Frederick placed first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.69 seconds.
“I had a terrible start in the 100,” Frederick said. “But I pushed through and got it done.”
Next up was the 4×100 relay, which she won with Aganus, Cootey and Kenoi. The foursome broke a meet record with a time of 49.52, the second-fastest time in the state this year.
“As I approached the finish line I heard them saying 46, 47, 48, and I was reaching and I thought ‘please be 49,’” Frederick said. “I used all my energy but we got it.”
Despite feeling a little fatigued after the relay, Frederick went on to claim a gold in the 200 (26.72) and 400 (59.09).
“This was amazing and really fun,” Frederick said. “On the track, I was dying after every event, but it was worth it at the end just to see the smiles on everyone’s face.”
Aganus also had a solid meet for the Warriors, with first-place finishes in the 100 hurdles (14.94), 300 hurdles (45.95), and as part of the 4×100 relay.
“It was a good meet but I thought I could do better,” Aganus said. “I need to work on my technique a bit more and attack the hurdles.”
Kealakehe’s big win
Coming into the BIIF championships, Kealakehe knew it would need to get several spectacular performances to grab the title from the Wildcats. No event demonstrated the competition between the two schools more than the 4×100 relay.
Since Patrick Bradley took over as coach of Konawaena, the Wildcats have prided themselves on their relay events.
However, led by Justyce Kahunahana-Simms, Bryton Lewi, Isaiah Kemp and Calvin McHone-Todd, the Waveriders managed to edge out the Wildcats at the line in the 4×100, 42.98 to 43.20. Kealakehe’s time was a personal best and good enough for the third fastest in the state this year.
“Each member of the team helped push the others to be the best,” Kahunahana-Simms said. “We had a constant rivalry going at practice.”
Kahunahana-Simms went on to take gold in the 110 and 300 hurdles as well with times of 15.54 and 41.85, respectively.
The Kealakehe senior was pushed by Hilo’s Dylan Forbes, who finished second in both races.
“Dyan is usually ahead of me in every race until the sixth or eighth hurdle. In the 110, I was in the block, shaking, and I stumble out and hit the first hurdle. He was ahead of me until the last one when I finally passed him.” Kahunahana-Simms said. “I feel bad for him because he works so hard and he pushes me. I usually do not PR in races that he is not in.”
Akau named boys MVP
Hauoli Akau was named the MVP of the boys meet. The Konawaena athlete placed first in the 400 (49.63) and the long jump (21-11). His time in the 400 was the fastest in the state this year and his long jump was a personal best. He was also a member of the winning 4×400 relay team (3:26:14).
The 4×400 relay is the defending state champion. Akau was a part of that team.
“Had another outstanding meet and we are looking forward to the state championship,” said Konawaena coach Patrick Bradley.
