WAILUA — The Island School varsity mixed paddling team missed the cut by about a minute Saturday to bring the Kauai Interscholastic Federation outrigger canoe races to an exciting climax at the Wailua River.
The Voyager crew, stroking to a 4 minute, 4.43 second preliminary race to qualify for the finals, chased the Menehune team that crossed the line on a 4:03.06 run over the half-mile course that featured a tight turn at the top where spectators lined the river banks for a vantage point of the critical turns.
During the finals run, the Voyagers improved their performance to a 4:04.36 paddle, but the effort fell short as the Menehune mixed team crossed on a 4:03.56 run, a tad slower than its preliminary go.
Kapaa, taking the Kauai team out of the finals on a preliminary 4:21.28 run over the Raiders’ 4:30.71 paddle, stroked the finals to third place on a 4:14.50 run.
The top finish in the race earns Waimea team a berth in the Hawaiian Airlines Hawaii High School Athletic Association canoe paddling championships that will be contested at Keehi Lagoon on Oahu.
Waimea’s mixed team will be joined by the varsity girls team from Kapaa High School and the varsity boys team from Kauai High School.
Kapaa (4:15.98) beat out Kauai High School (4:18.83) by nearly three minutes in the varsity girls finals, and the Kauai varsity boys (3:52.71) were nearly two minutes faster than Kapaa (3:53.21) in those races.
During this time last year, Kapaa dominated the divisions with five wins over the six classes. This year, the competitiveness on Wailua River changed up the order with Kapaa finishing tops in the JV boys, JV mixed, and the varsity girls classes. Kauai High School finished tops in the JV girls and the varsity boys divisions, while Waimea topped the varsity mixed crews.
Junior varsity results
Junior varsity girls: Kapaa A (4:35:40), Kauai A (4:22:64)
Junior varsity boys: Waimea A (4:07:71), Kauai A (4:18:84), Kapaa A (3:59:53), Waimea B (4:21:34), Kapaa B (4:44:34), Kap b JV girls (4:34:79)
Junior varsity mixed: Island A (4:40:90), Kapaa A (4:25:24), Waimea A (4:39:61), Kauai A (4:23:43), Kauai B (4:39:62), Waimea B (4:46:612), Kapaa B (4:421:65)
Varsity results
Girls: Waimea A (4:33:45), Kauai A (4:18:63), Kapaa A (4:15:98)
Boys: Kapaa A (3:59:36), Waimea A (3:53:21), Kauai A (3:52:71)
Mixed finals: Kapaa A (4:14:50), Waimea A (4:03:56), Island A (4:04:36)
Cumulative Points
JV girls: Kapaa 23, Kauai 33, Waimea 4
JV boys: Kapaa 33, Kauai 14, Waimea 23, Island 2
JV mixed: Kapaa 30, Kauai 28, Waimea 10, Island 7
Varsity girls: Kapaa 30, Kauai 25, Waimea 15, Island 7
Varsity boys: Kapaa 15, Kauai 29, Waimea 25, Island 7
Varsity mixed: Kapaa 15, Kauai 16, Waimea 31, Island 15
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
