PO‘IPU — Graduating high school senior rodeo participants were the stars of the Hawai‘i High School Rodeo Association Kaua‘i district rodeo that unfurled under clear, sunny skies at CJM Country Stables arena.
Graduating seniors Casera Silva, Cody Manibog, Francesca Bivens, Kahinu Palama-Soares, not-present Kiyana Kanoho, Mahina Puu, and Nicole Medeiros received their respective congratulations from scores of family and friends that dotted the CJM landscape with pop-up tents to escape the dry heat.
“I’m all right,” said Mahina Pu‘u after being pinned by a steer in the double mugging, a unique Hawai‘i rodeo event, as partner Taylor Langtad tended to the final ties. “I couldn’t breathe for a while, but I’m all right.”
The Pu‘u/Langtad team celebrated the feat despite time running out on their go.
Pu‘u came back in the barrel racing to pass Casera Silva, who set the pace with her 17.429 seconds time through the three-barrel patten. Pu‘u swept through the gates and set the new time at 17.026 to take the event over Silva.
Skye Schumacher, getting the junior spotlight award in the previous rodeo, continued to shine Sunday, picking up first-place finishes in barrel racing and girls goat-tying, and a second-place finish in pole bending.
Early Results
High School
Barrel racing (1st rodeo, times in seconds): Mahina Pu‘u (17.026), Casera Silva (17.429), Nicole Medeiros (18.16);
Pole bending (2nd rodeo): Nicole Medeiros (22.466), Mahina Pu‘u (23.056), Francesca Bivens (25.379);
Goat tying (2nd rodeo): Casera Silva (10.043), Nicole Medeiros (15.259), Leolani Fernandez (16.064);
Breakaway roping: Taylor Langtad (10.179), Casera Silva (12.547);
Dally team roping: Cody Manibog/Austin Camara (21.007), Kahinu Palama-Soares/Casera Silva (24.04);
Keiki rodeo
Keiki barrel racing K-2: Cade Carveiro (27.415), Kameren Ka‘aihue (28.127), Tanner Refamonte (39.289);
Goat undecorating K-2: Tanner Refamonte (10.168), Kameren Ka‘aihue (10.282), Cade Carveiro (12.964);
Breakaway roping: Mateo Vegas (7.294);
Dally team roping Gr. 3-5: Mateo Vegas/Casera Silva (12.715);
Junior high
Barrel racing (1st rodeo): Skye Schumacher (17.517), Sydney Manibog (18.474), Savannah Miranda (18.474);
Pole bending (1st rodeo): Savannah Miranda (22.285), Skye Schumacher (22.546), Kilileo Alquiza (23.748);
Girls goat tying (2nd rodeo): Skye Schumacher (13.607), Aleigha Palama (17.845), Chyanne Ka‘aihue (20.605);
Boys goat tying (2nd rodeo): Zhairyn Navarro (17.803), Colten Manibog (19.402);
Girls breakaway roping (1st rodeo): Chyanne Ka‘aihue (5.122), Kilileo Alquiza (6.770), Aleigha Palama (5.122);
Junior boys breakaway (1st rodeo): Zhairyn Navarro (8.533), Colten Manibog (6.309).
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
