Kozaki Continues to Raise the Bar in Girls Pole Vault

Baldwin High’s Amber Kozaki clears 12 feet, 7 inches at Friday’s trials of the Victorino Ohana Invitational Track & Field Meet. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

By Rodney S. Yap

Baldwin High School’s Amber Kozaki continued her record-breaking tour of the Maui Interscholastic League track and field season Friday at the Victorino Ohana Invitational trials.

Kozaki broke the meet record in the girls long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 7 inches before tackling the pole vault, where she raised her personal best by one inch to 12 feet, 7 inches — another meet record. She later took three attempts at 13 feet but failed.

The Baldwin senior broke meet records in her field specialties — long jump and pole vault — at the Ken Kamakea Meet last week and the Yamamoto Invitational the week before that.

She was reportedly ranked No. 18 in the nation among prep female vaulters following her record-breaking feat of 12-1 at Yamamoto on March 22. At that time she was using a boys pole which she had never used before.

After winning the girls pole vault at 12 feet, 7 inches, Baldwin’s Amber Kozaki made three attempts at 13 feet. Although she failed, she was close on one attempt Friday, at the trials of the Victorino Ohana Invitational. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.

Kozaki currently leads the state in the girls long jump at 17-10.75 and now 12-7 in the vault. Punahou’s Tori Houston has the next best long jump at 17-3, and Punahou’s Sammy Marumoto is the only other 12-foot female vaulter. The next eight best heights are between 8-6 and 10 feet.

Finals of the Victorno Ohana Invitational Track & Field Meet will be held Saturday, April 6, at the Satoki Yamamoto Track & Field Facility, beginning at 4 p.m.

Baldwin High School is the defending girls champion, while Maui High is the defending boys champion.

The Victorino Ohana Invitational is hosted by St. Anthony Junior-Senior High School and sponsored by former St. Anthony track sensation Shane Victorino.

The former state champion and record-holder is now playing professional baseball with the Boston Red Sox. His parents, Mike and Joycelyn, annually present the trophies and take pictures with the winning teams and selected individuals.