Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama and Punahou battled for the top two spots of the First Hawaiian Bank Hawaii High School Athletic Association paddling championships Saturday at Keehi Lagoon on Oahu. Kamehameha-Kapalama, with paddlers Hinaikawaiheele Keala, Tate Keliihoomalu, Kaira-Faye Lono, Kekahiliokalani Novikoff, Tressie
Kamehameha Schools-Kapalama and Punahou battled for the top two spots of the First Hawaiian Bank Hawaii High School Athletic Association paddling championships Saturday at Keehi Lagoon on Oahu.
Kamehameha-Kapalama, with paddlers Hinaikawaiheele Keala, Tate Keliihoomalu, Kaira-Faye Lono, Kekahiliokalani Novikoff, Tressie Ostermiller and Courtney Shook, topped the varsity girls race, crossing the line in 4 minutes, 9.31 second paddle in the final race.
The run was seven seconds ahead of Punahou (4:16.77).
The Warriors from Kapalama, with the crew of Robert Kaau Bradley, Kapono Fujitani, Lance Ontai, Kainalu Asam, David Kawika Kaleleiki and Taylore Voeller, topped the varsity boys field on a run of 3:35.17, a mere .31-second ahead of Punahou (3:35.48).
Punahou, with its title crew of Ethan Lewis, Geoffrey Lewis, Steven Falatea, Emalia Eichelberger, Alyssa Basdavanos and Victoria Rooks, captured the top spot in the varsity mixed race on a run of 3:47.20, nearly four ticks ahead of Kamehameha-Kapalama (3:51.16).
The Kauai Interscholastic Federation crews, Kauai varsity girls, Kapaa varsity boys and varsity mixed, were in action during the preliminary heats.
Kauai girls finished sixth in the opening varsity girls race, crossing on a 4:38.96 paddle compared with the top crew of Kamehameha-Kapalama crossing at 4:10.86.
Kapaa varsity boys finished No. 5 in its preliminary run on a 3:53.48 paddle compared with the heat top finisher Punahou (3:40.64).
The Kapaa varsity mixed crew ended No. 7 in its preliminary on a 4:09.26 run, compared with the heat top finisher, Kamehameha-Kapalama, who crossed at 3:49.36.
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