NAWILIWILI — Although no run times were available for the Varsity Girls division, Island School girls claimed victory on Saturday during the second Kauai Interscholastic Federation long-distance regatta held at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor.
Following a strong start by the four KIF member school squads, the Voyager crew, including Taimana Kjeldsen, Ruby Swartz, Mia Javellana, Nola Brown, Chloe Ayonon and Maile Havas, was chasing the Waimea crew at the turnaround where crews were met by strong headwinds.
The Voyagers overcame the difficulties, and by the time they hit the home stretch dotted with spectators, it was obvious Island School would win. Official times were not available at the field scoreboard, but the finish for varsity girls included Island School first, followed by Waimea, Kapaa and Kauai.
During the Varsity Boys race, Kauai High School boys team, including Jai Santa Maria, Alex Melchor, Jaden Kerr, Luke Gandeza and Dylan Finch stayed ahead of the elements to trip the clock on a time of 23 minutes, 31:64 seconds, nearly 13 seconds ahead of the Island School squad that clocked a 23:44.74 paddle. The Kapaa varsity boys finished third at 24:28:78 followed by Waimea at 29:59:37.
During the Junior Varsity Girls race that was half the distance of the varsity races, Island School, including Belia “Malu” Miyake, Kaiiea Carvalho, Maiha Kjeldsen, Ellen Conway, Lia Bragg and Mehana Dameron, topped the field of three canoes with a finish of 14:09:69 followed by Kapaa at 14:24:47 and Kauai at 15:38:54.
The Kauai JV Boys, including Jonah Gandeza, Luke Alfiler, Evan Strong, Carson Schmidt, Blake Hashimoto, and Cedric Johann was two seconds faster than the Kapaa JV boys when the clocks stopped at 12:50:76 for Kauai, and 12:48:03 for Kapaa. Island School settled for third place at 15:01:56.
Island School Varsity Mixed team, including Ruby Swartz, Keaia Doyle, Elijah Enoka, Ilihia Ventura, Kea Eu-Parziale and Jude Washburn topped the long-distance race on a run that stopped the clock at 25:09.34. Kauai Mixed team was just four ticks ahead of Kapaa after the Raiders marked a 26:22.37 run over the Warriors who stopped the clocks at 26:26.20. Waimea Varsity Mixed rounded out the field at 27:14.00.
No times were available for the JV Mixed races.
The next KIF paddling regatta takes place on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the Nawiliwili Harbor.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
