Kaua‘i Junior Lifeguards earn 7th straight title

NAWILIWILI — The Kaua‘i Junior Lifeguard team picked up its seventh straight State Junior Lifeguard Championship, Saturday.

The Kaua‘i program, hosting the state meet on the heels of a successful two-day Drowning Prevention and Ocean Safety Conference, lost little time establishing itself against teams from O‘ahu, Maui and the Big Island.

Kaua‘i finished the event collecting 187 points for the overall team win followed by O‘ahu accumulating 112 points for second place. The Big Island contingent finished with 61 points and Maui, coming in from the Valley Isle just in time for the competition’s start, ended with 32 points.

Teams competed in five major events including the 1,000 Meter Run; Beach Flags; the 1,000 Meter Run, Swim, Run; the 200 Meter Swim; and the Paddleboard Relay.

Anchored by Pierce Murphy, Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation standout long distance runner and state record holder for the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association, the Kaua‘i Boys 15-17 group swept the 1,000 Meter Run, capturing the first through third places. Kaua‘i placed first in the Boys 13-14, and Girls 15-17 divisions as well.

Tatiana Webb of Kaua‘i grabbed an early lead off the start for the Girls 13-14 division, but coming off the 500-meter flag, had relinquished the lead to Danielle Fletcher of O‘ahu.

Although staying close, Fletcher was able to stave off any comeback effort by Webb at the finish line.

Overall, Kaua‘i swept the Boys 15-17 1,000 Meter Run, the Girls 13-14 Beach Flags, and the Girls 15-17 Beach Flags.

Kaua‘i also placed first in all divisions of Beach Flags and three of the four divisions in the Run, Swim, Run.

Dorian Blanchard, a first finisher in the Boys 13-14 1,000 Meter Run, anchored the Run, Swim, Run, picking up his second gold medal with a first finish in this event over the challenge of Luke Bowman of the Big Island and Steven DeWald of O‘ahu.

Anya Littlefield, a strong KIF swimmer for Kapa‘a High School and the Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics program, came in with the sole first finish in the Girls 15-17 200 Meter Swim before Kaua‘i swept the four divisions in the Paddleboard Relay.

Kaua‘i capitalized on effective transitions and good entries into the water to chip out early leads and hold on to sweep the Relay in all age divisions.

“Overall, we have good athletes,” said Eugene Ancheta, a Kaua‘i Junior Lifeguard instructor. “But we need swimmers. We have strong runners, and solid overall performers, but are weak in swimming.”

Dr. Monty Downs, a longtime advocate of drowning prevention and ocean safety, said it is not important to win. What is important is the skills the participants take away with them — skills that will help them save themselves, and perhaps someone else. He described the competitors on the beach as the “best of the best,” a collection of the top participants of the summer’s Junior Lifeguard program.

That sentiment was echoed by the Big Island coach during his sharing of aloha presentation. These skills may also help you decide if a future in lifeguarding is in the athletes’ future.

OluKai, one of the event’s main sponsors, announced the formation of a new line of footwear dedicated to the training of water safety officers, a pair being donated to all the lifeguards in the state.

In addition to the sizeable contribution, Matthew Murasko offered Ralph Goto of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association a check for $12,000 to help with the statewide Junior Lifeguard program.

Jaime Arreola of Duke’s Canoe Club at Kalapaki provided lunch for all of the participants and volunteers while the Mermaid Cafe had cold healthy drinks available throughout the event and Jamba Juice came in with a limited supply of its product.

Kalani Vierra, the Kaua‘i Water Safety Supervising Officer, announced the 2011 state championships will be held on the Big Island.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.