WAILUKU » Sometimes, the most valuable skill for a dynastic program is as simple as knowing basic math.

Up only 4.33 points going into the final event, Punahou knew what was necessary to fend off upset-minded Seabury Hall last night at the Island Movers/HHSAA Girls Track and Field State Championships in rollicking War Memorial Stadium.

A crowd of about 2,000 saw runners and jumpers deal with strong gusts all afternoon and night.

Seabury Hall, anchored by Stanford-bound Kailea Tracey-Visintainer, won the 4×400 relay as expected in the final event. But Punahou, which needed to finish no worse than two spots behind Seabury Hall, sent its best four to the track: Megan Herndon, Julia Brand, Kayla Bryan and Lahaina Zoller.

The result was a second-place finish in the 4×400 — losing to Seabury Hall by just 1 second — that clinched the team championship for Punahou’s girls.

Punahou led for most of the 4×400. Zoller’s strong finish sealed the title for the Buffanblu, who have won three in a row and seven of the last eight under coach Duncan Macdonald. Punahou has also won 14 of the last 17 girls crowns and has now amassed a whopping 33 state championships.

"I wouldn’t call it a dynasty," Macdonald said. "But our team did a good job. I feel relieved. We came in looking good on paper, but we don’t really have superstars. That’s how it goes in high school. You can’t guarantee anything."

The top home-island team, Seabury Hall, kept it close. Tracey-Visintainer won the 200-meter dash (24.96 seconds) and the 400 (57.05) before anchoring the 4×400. She scratched out of the 100 to save her strength for the later races.

Punahou was a heavy favorite entering the meet, but some early struggle opened the door to Seabury Hall. Entering the 4×400, the point totals were 58.33 for Punahou, 54 for Seabury Hall and 51 for Kahuku.

Punahou finished with 66.33, Seabury had 64 and Kahuku closed with 51.

Having Bryan and Zoller step in for the 4×400 made a significant difference.

"We try to rest the athletes that will run on the last day," Macdonald said, recalling the last time Punahou faced a threat so late in a state meet. "The last time it was this close, we lost to Kamehameha."

Tracey-Visintainer had no regrets.

"I’m ecstatic. We have seven girls and six scored. To think we competed with a team that has 50 or 60," she said. "We’re small in numbers, but big at heart."

Zoller, who also helped Punahou’s 4×100 relay team win and finished sixth in the 400, was ready for a clutch performance.

"I came into the meet knowing I might run on our 4×400. It’s a good, satisfying feeling to beat some talented teams," she said.

The meet featured several outstanding individual performances. Kahuku’s Zhane Santiago competed in four events, scratching out of the 100 to win in two races.

The senior took the long jump with a best leap of 18 feet, 4 inches. That was nearly a foot farther than up-and-coming phenom Lia Galdeira of Konawaena.

She also won the 100 hurdles in 14.69 seconds, edging ‘Iolani’s Abrianna Johnson-Edwards (14.85).

Santiago (36-10.5) was second to Punahou’s Christine Tsai (36-10.75) in the triple jump.

Another sophomore, Raion Black of Christian Academy, won the 100 dash in 12.28, topping Andrea Hinkle of Radford (12.35) and Galdeira (12.40).

Kapolei junior Charlinda Ioane got past rival Joshlyn Noga of Kahuku in the discus, throwing a personal record 138 feet, 5 inches for the win.

"It was an early Mother’s Day gift," she said, hugging her mother, Davilyn Neilson.

Overcast skies and a cool breeze helped long-distance runners. Zoe Sims, a sophomore from Hawaii Prep, won the 1,500 run (4:45.61). Seabury Hall freshman Dakota Grossman, who finished less than a second behind Sims, later won the 3,000 run (10:42.53), edging Sophie Curatilo of Moanalua.

"Sophie caught up to me and I tried to stay with her and see what I had at the end. I actually surprised myself with the way I finished," Grossman said.

Another young winner was Ua Ruedy, a sophomore from Konawaena via Ke Kula ‘o Ehunuikaimalino immersion school. She edged Brand in the 300 hurdles with a time of 45.38.

"There’s so many big schools, we can show what we have to offer," Ruedy said.