It’s supposed to be pure. The fastest breaks the tape. And the winning time can become timeless; measured against history as well as peers. But it’s not always that simple in track and field, as the Hawaii high school state meet 100-meter records attest.

This much is certain. Devin Jenkins of Kapolei High School has covered the distance faster than anyone else in the history of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association championships.

It took him 10.46 seconds to win the 100 last spring on Maui. Faster than St. Anthony’s Shane Victorino in 1999, now one of the speediest men in Major League Baseball. Faster than two-time Olympic decathlon medalist Bryan Clay did in 1998 while competing for Castle.

Casey Flores of Konawaena was timed at 10.4 in 1996, but that converts to 10.64 because the timing then was hand-held.

So Jenkins is clearly the record-holder at 100 meters in state high school history, right? I saw him run several times, including at the state meet last year. I am among the many who believe he might be the fastest top-speed runner in state prep history, and should be recognized as such. But others say, well … not so fast.

THE ONLY THING that could stop this Hurricane last spring at states was the wind, or the technicalities in measuring it. The lack of an operating wind gauge during last year’s state final led the HHSAA to determine Jenkins’ time could not be recognized as a non-wind-aided record.

State meet director Jeff Meister said the proper equipment was on-site, but he "heard that the gauge didn’t have an operator" for the 100-meter final. So it was never measured if the wind was more than the allowable 2.0 meters per second.

I remember a stiff breeze at War Memorial Stadium that day. "It definitely was wind-aided," Meister said.

Some contend that Jenkins should get unquestioned credit for the record since an error that was no fault of his own prevented the wind from being measured. The problem with that is if Hawaii submitted Jenkins’ time, which would’ve been seventh-fastest in the country, for national recognition and it was discovered there was no wind gauge used.

The HHSAA recognizes Jenkins’ as a wind-aided record, besting Clay’s 10.52, while Victorino’s 10.80 stands as the official mark.

THE GOOD NEWS for Jenkins, now a senior, is he may get a chance to erase all doubt tonight and Saturday at Keaau on Hawaii island at the HHSAA/Island Movers trials and finals (marks set in trials count).

That’s "may" get a chance because you can’t count on calm conditions and a legal wind reading — or technology, or no human error.

Jenkins said the controversy from last year does help his motivation. He volunteers that his start needs much improvement, and he has battled hamstring injuries. Still, his 10.34 at a preseason meet this season is among the nation’s top 10 times so far for 2012.

"Whether or not it’s windy, I’m going to push through for my best time," said Jenkins, who has accepted a full-ride track scholarship at Southern University.

JENKINS IS AN Air Force dependent who was born in Montana and also lived in Mississippi, Okinawa and England before his family moved to Hawaii three years ago. He said he loves "the stability" of living in the islands after moving around and the friends he’s made at Kapolei playing football and running track. That’s why individual records are not his biggest goals this week.

"I’d prefer the team championship. Records will be broken again. But if we can bring a track banner to our gym that would be the most remarkable thing," Jenkins said. "I really want our team to win."

As a team, the Hurricanes would need a lot of things to fall into place to potentially upend Punahou and others.

But in the 100 and 200 meters, there’s no doubt Jenkins is the favorite to defend his titles. In the 100, he could become the event’s first repeat winner since a future Olympic track and field gold medalist, and he could wrest the official record set by a future MLB All-Star.

"He may put all that from last year to rest (this week)," Meister said.