The Kaua‘i High School girls track and field team has dominated the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation for the past seven years after securing this year’s title, said Peter Riopta, a Red Raider coach. Riopta was making the comments following the year-end
The Kaua‘i High School girls track and field team has dominated the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation for the past seven years after securing this year’s title, said Peter Riopta, a Red Raider coach.
Riopta was making the comments following the year-end awards banquet for the track and field team, which was led by freshman Kawehi Louis-Diamond who finished the KIF season by setting a new record in the girls 100-meter Hurdles and advancing to finish third at the Hawai‘i State Athletic Association state championships.
“This was Kawehi’s very first year of hurdling locally or at the state level,” Riopta said. “It’s scary to think what can happen in the next couple of years. She’s only a freshman.”
Along the way, Louis-Diamond got help from a Mainland coach who just showed up one day and asked if he could help, Riopta said.
During the KIF Championships, Louis-Diamond set the new girls 100-meter Hurdles record at 15.55 seconds, breaking a decade-old record set by Melissa Pacheco of Waimea High School.
Louis-Diamond and sophomore Reanna Javinar were presented the Girls Most Valuable Athlete awards; both girls were part of the girls 4×100 Relay team that finished fourth at the KIF Championships.
Louis-Diamond and Javinar were joined by Kelsey Cadiente, recipient of the Girls Most Improved award, and Kristle Henry, recipient of the Girls Maximum Effort award.
“With two freshman girls, a sophomore and a junior, our girls 4×100 Relay team should once again have a team that should contend for the gold medal next year,” Riopta said. “The Raider girls won that prestigious state championship in 2008 with Kelsey Cadiente.”
Also on that team were Kelsey’s sister Kathleen Cadiente, and current University of Hawai‘i athletes Jamilee Jimenez and Tiffany Ikeda-Simao.
Riopta said this current team can be just as successful as the 2008 team.
Darren Acoba, top finisher in the Boys hurdles event, was awarded the Boys Most Valuable Athlete award.
Richmond “Kala” Yee, working the jumps and sprints during the KIF season, was the recipient of the Boys Most Improved award.
The Boys Maximum Effort awards were presented to Lyle Ueunten and Travis Navarro, both of whom slugged it out in their respective mid- and long-distance events during the KIF season.
Lucas Gushikuma and Brittney Bonilla were recipients of the Scholar Athlete awards; Josh Herr and Kainoa Naihe got the Most Inspirational trophies.
Derek Wright and Kimberly Liberato were the Sportsmanship award recipients.
Coach Richard Matsumoto is the head coach of the Red Raider track and field program.
