Recap: Baldwin Wins State Boys Track Championships
Coaches and athletes of the Baldwin High School track team pose for a championship group picture at Kea'au High School Saturday. Photo by Ardis Anguay.
By Rodney S. Yap
This time, the Baldwin High School boys track team was not going to be denied.
That’s because this time the Bears had fewer weaknesses and better unity. This time, they ran, jumped, hurdled and threw with a competitive spirit that reflected sound coaching and meticulous preparation.
This time, the blend had both ying and yang, old and new, youth and experience. From the burly veteran Pasoni Tasini to the sometimes awkward rookie Keelan Ewaliko. Baldwin rolled with confidence and pride, focused on the prize — the one that had eluded long-time coach Gary Sanches for three decades.
A state championship would give Sanches one more story to tell. Only this one would be worth repeating, for the way the Bears earned their success Saturday at the finals of the Island Movers State Track and Field Championships.
Kekaulike's Michael Teves wears his gold medal in the pole vault atop the medal stand Saturday at the state track and field championships on the
Lousy weather and odd conditions were non-factors in the end, much like the competition from the host school and perennial powers from Oahu.
“We showed up and took care of business,” Sanches said on Sunday. “Sometimes you have to get some lucky breaks, too.”
Saturday, however, was not one of those times as the Bears were among the favorites coming into the two-day meet and had athletes qualified in 12 of 16 events. The 10-member team from Wailuku scored in nine events and returned to the Valley Isle on Sunday with nine individual medals, including two gold and three silver to go with 4×100 relay title that served as the exclamation point.
The team’s 63 points was 21 better than runner-up King Kekaulike, who bested third-place Punahou by one point, 43-42. Kea’au was fourth with 36 points and Mililani fifth with 26 points. Maui High, the only Maui Interscholastic League team with state track titles to its credit (1987 and 1995), placed a respectable seventh in the team standings with 22 points.
As a league, the MIL had three teams in the top seven and was arguably the strongest, scoring a combined 144.33 points.
Baldwin head coach Ardis Anguay was all smiles after the meet, full of pride, as her team enjoyed the rewards of its hard work and commitment.
“It was a total team effort and we knew we were going to need everybody to do their part if we were going to win,” Anguay said. “The boys really stepped up and made it happen. They were focused. They knew what had to be done and they did it.”
King Kekaulike's Jake Jacobs (black tank) tries to stay with Kealakehe's Luca Walter in the boys 400-meter dash. Jacobs finished second to Walter. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.
“Maui made a statement, not just Baldwin,” Sanches said. “All the kids ran tough. It’s not easy to win a medal at state.”
Tasini capped his prep career with the biggest weekend among the MIL boys, scoring a league-high 18 points with a gold-medal effort in the boys discus of 171 feet, 4 inches. It looked like Tasini was going to win a pair of gold medals after setting a new PR of 54-1 in the shot put. The mark was No. 1 until the defending champion in the event, Shane Brostek of Hawaii Prep Academy, unleashed a 55-7.25 on his final throw.
Sanches said Tasini had the right attitude from the beginning of the season.
“He took it very serious this year. He made up his mind and he worked hard.”
The MIL’s other three gold-medal winners were King Kekaulike pole vaulter Michael Teves, who beat Kihei Charter School’s Lucas Zarro in a jump-off at 14-feet; Maui High’s distance ace Nicola Perez-Garreaud in the 3,000, where he posted the year’s best time of 9:14.79; and Ewaliko, who continues to flourish in a sport he only started this year, won the boys 200-meter dash in 22.49. The Baldwin quarterback, who will be at spring football practice on Monday, also anchored the Bears’ winning 4×100 relay.
Maui High's Tau Lotolelei throws the discus at the trials of the state track and field championships. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.
Ewaliko was joined by Ryne Yokouchi, Vetekina Malafu and Aaron Marzan to record a winning time of 43.10, compared to Kea’au’s 44.15. The Cougars were seeded No. 1 going into the finals, but their baton appeared to slow down in the second exchange zone. By the time Kea’au’s anchor Damien Packer got going Ewaliko’s lead was insurmountable.
“What can you say about Ewaliko. After he fouled all three of his attempts in the long jump on Friday he was down,” Sanches said. “But like I told him, you just have to rise to the occasion in your next event. And then wow, he just made up his mind in the 200 and said, ‘Here I am, I have arrived.’ ”
Jumper Jansen Agapay of King Kekaulike was the MIL’s number two point-getter with 16 as he collected a pair of silver medals in the long (21-3.75) and triple (44-4.75) jumps.
“I’m extremely proud of him and all of the kids for the way they performed,” said Kekaulike’s second-year jump coach Aris Banaag, who is also the school’s assistant basketball coach and encouraged many of his own players to crossover to track during the off-season. “Everything I asked them to do they put out.”
Baldwin's Vetekina Malafu finished second in the boys 110 high hurdles and and Kamehameha Maui's Connor Yap finished fifth. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.
Banaag’s recruiting efforts proved formindable in the MIL championships where Na Alii led all schools with 43 points in the three jump disciplines alone.
Kekaulike coach James Alger said the team’s total points and second-place finish caught everyone off-guard as they were walking to the parking lot near the end of the meet.
“Technically we were on our way out,” Alger said. “What a nice surprise that was. We had a couple of kids who were disappointed they didn’t do better. But for two Maui teams to finish 1-2, for the first time, shows the talent has prevailed.
“It was a good ending, after a lot of near misses for our school. We were thrilled to hold the (second place) trophy and take a group picture with Baldwin. That was something.”
The MIL’s best previous finish, collectively, was 1999 when Punahou won with 42 points and Maui High was next with 38, followed by the Shane Victorino-led Trojans of St. Anthony with 37.
Alger is hoping the recent success of the track program will draw more participation next year. Especially when you consider one of the team’s brightest stars, freshman Jake Jacobs, has three more years of eligibility. To the credit of the Kekaulike coaching staff, Jacobs ran with the determination of a veteran sprinter when he crossed the finish line in the 400-meter dash with a PR of 50.02.
Baldwin’s second-leading point-getter was Tyler Feiteira with 14 points, followed by Ewaliko’s 13.5. Feiteira went out hard in the 300 hurdles and finished second in 40.68, plus he placed third in the pole vault on Friday at 13-6.
Kamehameha Maui's Tyler Macarthur (left) hands of the baton in the 4x400 relay to anchor runner Jamal Jones. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.
Malafu was the Bears other workhorse and second-place finisher in the 11o high hurdles at 15.53. Kamehameha Maui’s Connor Yap earned fifth-place medals running behind Malafu in the highs (15.91) and Feiteira in the 300s (41.24).
Kamehameha Maui finished fourth in the 4×400 relay with an MIL best 3:27.61. The quartet of Billy Ayakawa, Jordan Nauka, Tyler Macarthur and Jamal Jones dropped two seconds off its previous best time in the finals. Nauka is the lone senior, the others are juniors.
“Give those boys from Kamehameha credit, they ran hard and didn’t give up anything to the other teams. They are going to be tough next year,” the Baldwin coach noted.
“We had a lot of team unity this year, something we didn’t have in the past. We did it the Punahou way, we nickel and dimed. We had a complete team this year, which is what Punahou usually has and they pick up a lot of the 4ths, 5ths and 6th places, and before you know it we have 40 to 50 points.
“But like I told the boys, we’re history now, enjoy it while you can.”
Baldwin's Pasoni Tasini. Photo by Rodney S. Yap.
MIL Boys State Finals Wrap-up
Total Points Scored: 144.33
Individual Qualifiers: 25 / 19 scored points
School (Athletes): Baldwin(10), King Kekaulike (7), Kamehmeha Maui (6), Maui High (5), Lahainaluna (2), Kihei Charter (1), Maui Prep Academy (1).
Individual Medals: 22 (4-1st, 6-2nds, 2-3rds, 2-4ths, 4-5ths, 4-6ths)
Gold Medals: Pole vault, Michael Teves, KK; Discus, Pasoni Tasini, BH; 200, Keelan Ewaliko, BH; 3,000, Nicola Perez-Garreaud, MH.
Top 5 MIL Scorers / Performers
1. Pasoni Tasini (BH) 18
2. Jansen Agapay (KK) 16
3. Tyler Feiteira (BH) 14
4. Keelan Ewaliko (BH) 13.5
5. Vetekina Malafu (BH) 10.5
Relays
Baldwin (1) 4×100 [Ryne Yokouchi, Vetekina Malafu, Aaron Marzan, Keelan Ewaliko]
Kamehameha Maui (6) 4×100 [Stephen Barut, Connor Yap, Jamal Jones, Jordan Nauka]
Kamehameha Maui (4) 4×400 [Billy Ayakawa, Jordan Nauka, Tyler Macarthur, Jamal Jones]
BOYS FINAL TEAM SCORES
===============================================================================
1) Baldwin 63 2) KING KEKAULIKE 42
3) Punahou School Boys 41 4) Kea’au 36
5) Mililani High School 26 6) Kealakehe 23
7) Radford High School 22 7) Maui High 22
9) Waiakea 16 9) Kamehameha Schools Hawaii 16
11) KS Kapalama Boys 15.33 12) Hawaii Prep 15
13) Farrington High School 14 14) Kapolei High School 13
15) Waipahu High School 11 16) Iolani School Boys 10
16) Kailua High School 10 16) Moanalua High School 10
19) Kamehameha Schools Maui Ca 9 20) Kihei Charter School 8
20) Saint Louis High School 8 20) Honoka’a 8
20) Chrsitian Academy 8 20) Ka’u 8
20) Nanakuli High School 8 26) Waianae High School 6
26) Castle High School 6 26) Kaimuki High School 6
26) Mid-Pacific Institute 6 30) Hanalani 4
31) Kaiser High School 2 32) Damien Memorial 1
32) Kahuku High School 1 32) HILO 1
35) Maui Preparatory Academy 0.33 35) Campbell High School 0.33
Boys 100 Meter Dash
=================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=================================================================================
Finals
1 Devin Jenkins SR Kapolei 11.05 11.00 10
2 Jeremy Tabuyo JR St Louis 11.28 11.16 8
3 Kaenen Akau 12 KS – Hawaii 11.16 11.19 6
4 Jonathan Melton SR Hanalani 11.13 11.192 4
5 Avery Hardie-Jordan JR Kealakehe 11.14 11.198 2
6 Keelan Ewaliko JR Baldwin 11.26 11.29 1
7 Damien Packer 12 Kea’au 11.33 11.30
8 Albert Bee 10 Castle 11.30 11.49
Boys 200 Meter Dash
=================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=================================================================================
Finals
1 Keelan Ewaliko JR Baldwin 22.7h 22.49 10
2 Avery Hardie-Jordan JR Kealakehe 22.6h 22.66 8
3 Nick Kwon JR Mid-Pacific 22.5h 22.78 6
4 Cilvin Steward 12 Mililani 22.8h 23.04 4
5 Devin Jenkins SR Kapolei 22.3h 23.07 2
6 Krixtofer Hughley SR Radford 22.8h 23.23 1
7 Cameron Twiggs SR Waimea 23.0h 23.41
8 Jonathan Melton SR Hanalani 22.3h 23.90
Boys 400 Meter Dash
================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Luca Walter SR Kealakehe 50.58 49.78 10
2 Jake Jacobs FR King Kekaulike 51.40 50.02 8
3 Nathan Cross 12 Mililani 50.54 50.39 6
4 Logan Ne JR KS – Kapalama 50.91 50.67 4
5 Alec Dinsmore FR Punahou 51.57 50.83 2
6 Jason Fowler SR Kealakehe 51.47 50.89 1
7 Romar Bacosa SR Radford 51.84 50.91
8 Divon Parker JR St Louis 51.76 52.54
Boys 800 Meter Run
================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Nathan Underwood SR Kailua 2:00.74 1:58.49 10
2 Michael Chin JR Christian Academy 2:01.91 1:58.90 8
3 Adan Overcash JR Iolani 2:01.37 1:59.27 6
4 Nikolai Scharer JR Punahou 2:02.70 1:59.89 4
5 Keegan Gregg JR King Kekaulike 2:01.01 2:00.10 2
6 Jamal Winston JR Nanakuli 2:02.53 2:01.57 1
7 Nathan Shirey SR Kapolei 2:01.81 2:01.72
8 Gary Fanelli JR Damien 2:01.77 2:02.26
Boys 1500 Meter Run
================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Nikolai Scharer JR Punahou 4:26.12 4:10.86 10
2 Chayce Moniz 12 Honoka’a 4:22.15 4:11.16 8
3 Jackson Halford SR Waiakea 4:22.01 4:11.79 6
4 David Clarke JR Iolani 4:21.69 4:13.59 4
5 Matthew Baker SR Radford 4:26.02 4:14.72 2
6 Nathan Shirey SR Kapolei 4:26.39 4:15.99 1
7 Austin Davis JR Moanalua 4:26.12 4:20.70
8 James Pearson JR Baldwin 4:21.99 4:21.96
9 Paven Sinn 12 Mililani 4:25.28 4:22.81
10 Gianni Cuadrado JR Kapolei 4:22.13 4:23.06
11 Corban Kaikkonen SO Lahainaluna 4:24.57 4:23.47
12 Jerrod Wolfe SO Moanalua 4:24.78 4:28.35
Boys 3000 Meter Run
================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Nicola Perez-Garreaud SR Maui High 9:22.6h 9:14.79 10
2 Jac Hebert SO Punahou 9:27.1h 9:15.59 8
3 Rocky Balala SR Maui High 9:23.0h 9:18.65 6
4 Ian McQuate SO Waiakea 9:30.3h 9:21.63 4
5 Charles Akiona JR KS – Kapalama 9:35.0h 9:22.26 2
6 Sebastian Barahal FR Punahou 9:24.4h 9:22.52 1
7 Jackson Halford SR Waiakea 9:28.5h 9:25.14
8 Joshua Herr JR Kauai Boys 9:25.2h 9:25.62
9 Zachary Carvalho 11 Mililani 9:25.7h 9:26.95
10 Davis Kaahanui SO KS – Kapalama 9:35.2h 9:31.75
11 Troy Esaki SR Iolani 9:34.7h 9:37.30
12 Austin Davis JR Moanalua 9:24.9h 9:47.76
Boys 110 Meter Hurdles
=================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=================================================================================
Finals
1 Kevin Acasio SR Radford 15.30 15.15 10
2 Vetekina Malafu SR Baldwin 15.58 15.53 8
3 Cliff Eriksson 12 Kea’au 15.71 15.56 6
4 Collin Pidot SR KS – Kapalama 16.11 15.85 4
5 Connor Yap JR KS – Maui 15.82 15.91 2
6 Jayven Mohetau JR Kahuku 15.78 15.97 1
7 Aaron Cox SR Waipahu 15.81 16.03
8 Brannon Bantolina JR Campbell 15.92 16.51
Boys 300 Meter Hurdles
================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Alexander Engdahl 12 Kea’au 40.71 40.27 10
2 Tyler Feiteira JR Baldwin 41.93 40.68 8
3 Layne Suyat 12 Castle 41.06 40.74 6
4 Aaron Cox SR Waipahu 41.36 40.93 4
5 Connor Yap JR KS – Maui 41.76 41.24 2
6 Collin Pidot SR KS – Kapalama 42.01 41.32 1
7 Michael Morikawa JR Waiakea 41.40 41.93
8 Griffin Saunders SO Punahou 42.20 42.03
Boys 4×100 Meter Relay
================================================================================
School Prelims Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Baldwin 43.71 43.10 10
2 Kea’au 43.30 43.15 8
3 Mililani High School 44.20 43.55 6
4 KS Kapalama Boys 43.81 43.61 4
5 Punahou School Boys 43.90 43.67 2
6 Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus 44.12 44.28 1
7 Kealakehe 43.99 44.28
— Campbell High School 44.11 DQ Rule 5-11-1
Boys 4×400 Meter Relay
================================================================================
School Prelims Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Punahou School Boys 3:29.10 3:23.28 10
2 Radford High School 3:30.10 3:24.19 8
3 Mililani High School 3:29.10 3:25.00 6
4 Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus 3:29.70 3:27.61 4
5 Kealakehe 3:29.80 3:27.67 2
6 Damien Memorial 3:31.70 3:28.34 1
7 Honoka’a 3:32.40 3:31.81
8 Kapolei High School 3:31.60 3:35.89
Boys High Jump
================================================================================
Name Year School Seed Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Cliff Eriksson 12 Kea’au 6-02.00 6-02.00 10
2 Richard Ugalde SR Waipahu 6-02.00 6-00.00 7
2 Gary Shelton 12 Nanakuli 6-00.00 6-00.00 7
4 Vincent Keomoungkhoune JR Maui High 6-05.00 J6-00.00 4
5 Billy Joe Bonete SR King Kekaulike 6-01.00 J6-00.00 2
6 Kayson Smith-Bejgrowicz FR KS – Kapalama 6-02.00 5-10.00 0.33
6 Theron Britt SR Campbell 6-00.00 5-10.00 0.33
6 Troy Otto JR Maui Prep 6-01.00 5-10.00 0.33
9 Claude Sherwood JR Lahainaluna 5-09.00 J5-10.00
10 Noa Yap JR KS – Kapalama 6-02.00 J5-10.00
11 Keoni Yates SO Kealakehe 5-10.00 J5-10.00
11 Travis Matsuzaki SR Punahou 6-00.00 J5-10.00
11 Raymon Ledesma JR Maui High 5-10.00 J5-10.00
Boys Long Jump
=================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=================================================================================
1 Kaenen Akau 12 KS – Hawaii 22-01.75 22-01.75 10
2 Jansen Agapay JR King Kekaulike 21-03.50 21-03.75 8
3 Michael Morikawa JR Waiakea 21-03.25 21-03.25 6
4 Lawrence Akana SR Waianae 20-10.00 20-10.00 4
5 Alika Kaopua SR Ka’u 20-07.50 20-07.50 2
6 Romar Bacosa SR Radford 20-06.75 20-06.75 1
7 Alani Uyeno SR Roosevelt 20-04.50 20-04.50
8 Talon Ota 11 Kea’au 20-04.25 20-04.25
Boys Triple Jump
=================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=================================================================================
Finals
1 Thomas Cheong JR Moanalua 44-11.25 44-11.25 10
2 Jansen Agapay JR King Kekaulike 42-10.75 44-04.75 8
3 Alika Kaopua SR Ka’u 42-07.50 43-10.50 6
4 Luke Brown SR King Kekaulike 42-06.00 43-08.00 4
5 Lawrence Akana SR Waianae 43-02.25 43-03.25 2
6 Mattias Thompson SR Baldwin 41-10.25 41-10.25 1
7 Anthony Pataray SO St Louis 41-00.25 41-00.25
8 Nathan Cross 12 Mililani 40-11.75 40-11.75
Boys Shot Put
================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Shane Brostek SR Hawaii Prep 52-03.00 55-07.25 10
2 Pasoni Tasini SR Baldwin 54-01.00 54-01.00 8
3 Keanu Foki SR Farrington 51-03.00 51-09.50 6
4 Isaac Savaiinaea JR Punahou 51-02.50 51-02.50 4
5 Totauhelotu Lotulelei SR Maui High 50-08.25 50-08.25 2
6 Miki Fangatua JR Baldwin 50-06.00 50-06.75 1
7 Reeve Koehler JR St Louis 50-01.25 50-01.25
8 Keoni Bush-Loo SR KS – Kapalama 49-04.75 49-04.75
Boys Discus Throw
================================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
================================================================================
Finals
1 Pasoni Tasini SR Baldwin 171-04 171-04 10
2 Keanu Foki SR Farrington 164-04 164-04 8
3 Siaosi Halaapiapi SR Kaimuki 161-10 161-10 6
4 Shane Brostek SR Hawaii Prep 159-09 159-09 4
5 Lopeti Fonokalifi SR Kaiser 158-01 158-01 2
6 Zack Atagi 12 Hilo 154-06 154-06 1
7 Totauhelotu Lotulelei SR Maui High 153-02 153-02
8 Miki Fangatua JR Baldwin 150-03 153-00
Boys Pole Vault
================================================================================
Name Year School Seed Finals Points
================================================================================
1 Michael Teves SR King Kekaulike 14-03.00 14-00.00 10
2 Lucas Zarro JR Kihei 14-00.00 J14-00.00 8
3 Tyler Feiteira JR Baldwin 13-06.00 13-06.00 6
4 Collin Nguyen 12 Mililani 13-06.00 J13-06.00 4
5 Nelson Enos 12 Kea’au 13-06.00 J13-06.00 2
6 Kayden Haleakala SR Hawaii Prep 13-00.00 13-00.00 1
7 Devin Furuta-Harada JR Roosevelt 13-00.00 J13-00.00
8 Katon Pestano 11 Hilo 13-00.00 J13-00.00
9 Zachary Yanagihara SR King Kekaulike 12-09.00 J13-00.00
9 Bryson Wong JR Punahou 13-00.00 J13-00.00
11 Travis Oshiro JR Roosevelt 11-06.00 12-06.00
11 Trent Park SR KS – Kapalama 12-06.00 12-06.00
11 Dusty Flores SO Baldwin 12-09.00 12-06.00
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