Bukoski tears at track - The Garden Island

Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island

The Waimea High School runner gets going on the transfer as Kapaa’s Jaliyah Casem makes the transfer on the outside lane at the Girls 4x100 relay event, Thursday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation qualifying track meet No. 5 at Vidinha Stadium.

Dennis Fujimoto/The Garden Island

Kauai High School’s Kaleonahe Bukoski clears and qualifies in the High Jump before checking out to participate in another event, Thursday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation qualifying meet No. 5.

LIHUE Kauai High Schools Kaleonahe Bukoski, a freshman, broke down and cried Thursday during a Kauai Interscholastic Federation qualifying track and field meet at Vidinha Stadium.

LIHUE — Kauai High School’s Kaleonahe Bukoski, a freshman, broke down and cried Thursday during a Kauai Interscholastic Federation qualifying track and field meet at Vidinha Stadium.

Bukoski, working the girls high jump, hastily qualified on a leap of 4 feet, 8 inches before checking out to participate in the girls 4 x 100 meter event, the same scenario as Jaliyah Casem of Kapaa, both athletes making the state cut before rushing off.

Both athletes contributed to more state cuts as the Kauai, Waimea, and Kapaa 4 x 100 relay teams finished with state qualifying times in its first, second, and third place finishes, respectively. Kauai speedsters set the pace in event with a 51.88-second run, followed by the Menehune team (52.83), and the Warriors (52.92).

Bukoski returned to the bar and continued to leap, finishing in first place on a 5-0 leap.

“Nah-ah!” the freshman said in disbelief after being informed of her feat by Kauai High School coach Jamie Jiminez. “I thought I was jumping 4-04 and going for 04-06. Nah-ah!”

Following her feats, early in the meet, Bukoski went on to make state cuts in the long jump (16-04.00) where she was joined by team mate Jenna Takeuchi who filled in second place with a state qualifying leap of 16.03.50.

Bukoski completed her night by getting first in the girls triple Jump on a leap of 34-08.50.

“Fresh meat,” Jiminez said. “You wanna cry? I know. You wanna cry.”

Bukoski’s performance was one of 16 female student athletes that qualified for the state meet. On the boys’ arena, six boys finished by qualifying for states.

The KIF qualifying meets continue Thursday with the first event getting underway at 4:30 p.m. at the Vidinha Stadium.

This is the final qualifying meet ahead of the KIF track and field championships qualifying and final meets scheduled April 18 and 19 at Vidinha Stadium. There is no admission fee for the qualifying meets. Admission will be assessed for the KIF championships, April 19.

Girls Qualifiers

Mia Takekuma (Kau) 100 meter dash (12.94), Mia Takekuma (Kau) 200 meter dash (26.85), Jayden DeSouza (IS) 400 meter dash (1:00.35), Violet Alao (Kap) 400 meter dash (1:02.77), Jayden DeSouza (IS) 800 meter run (2:25.64), Taelyn Nunes (Kap) 100 meter hurdles (17.23), Jacelyn Ragragola-Palacio (Wai) 100 meter hurdles (17.42), Kauai A (4×100 relay) 51.88, Waimea A (4×100 relay) 52.83, Kapaa A (4×100 relay) 52.92, Kaleonahe Bukoski (Kau) High Jump (05-00), Jaliyah Casem (Kap) High Jump (04-08), Kaleonahe Bukoski (Kau) Long Jump (16-04.00), Jenna Takeuchi (Kau) Long Jump (16-03.50), Kaleonahe Bukoski (Kau) Triple Jump (34-08.50), Gheymee Perreira (Wai) Shot Put (32-03.00).

Boys Qualifiers

Whitney Lugo (Kau) 200 meter dash (23.22), Joshua Graves (IS) 800 meter run (2:01.55), Joseph Hedstrom (Wai) 110 meter hurdles (16.47), Samuel Mokuahi (Kap) High Jump (5-10.00), Kawelo Huddy (Wai) Long Jump (20-02.50), Micah Carvalho (Kau) Triple Jump (41-01.50).

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