It was windy and wet, just the way Kahili Novikoff expects weather on the hill to be.
The Kamehameha senior responded to the intermittent gusts and sprinkly showers with her best shot put mark of the season, taking individual titles in that event and the discus on Friday at the Interscholastic League of Honolulu track and field championships at Kunuiakea Stadium.
"The weather doesn’t bother me," she said. "We deal with the same wind at practice, and it kind of went away when we threw. And the rain dried up. If it gets really wet, I change out of my throwing shoes into my running shoes for more traction, but it got dry enough."
Knowing the climate on Kapalama Heights certainly helped the Warriors. While some throwers had trouble catching traction on the wet synthetic surface, Novikoff put the shot 41 feet, 11.5 inches, her best distance this year. She also threw the discus 129 feet, 6 inches, less than 2 feet off her personal record.
"It definitely feels the same," she said, comparing this year to last, when she won the shot put state title with a distance of 42-10.5. "I’m peaking at the right time, so close to states. That’s always an advantage, to have (states) at Kamehameha."
With the state championships coming up in two weeks, everything seems to be coming together for the Hana, Maui, native.
"We’re excited," assistant coach Kim Terai said. "She had a great summer, and she also won state championships in paddling for mixed crew and women’s crew."
Assistant coach Rob Santos has engineered another well-designed plan for Novikoff and his throwers.
"Coach Rob is very careful about it. You don’t want them to peak too early," Terai said.
The Warriors had a strong showing, finishing second in the boys and girls team standings to perennial powerhouse Punahou.
"The girls were saying how cool it is that track brings so many people together, supporting each other," Terai said. "Kahili’s character, her work ethic, the way she’s always encouraging her teammates. We’re going to miss that about her."
Her toughest competition at states will likely be Kahoa Mikaele of Kailua in the discus and Sabrina Hollins of Waipahu in the shot put.
Mikaele threw the discus 141 feet at the recent Cal Track/Ruby Tuesday Invitational at Punahou’s Alexander Field. Hollins bested Novikoff at the recent Honolulu Marathon meet with a shot put distance of more than 38 feet, Novikoff said.
Weather on the hill is familiar to Novikoff, who lives right up the driveway in the dormitory, as she has since seventh grade.
"When she went (to Kapalama) in seventh grade, she didn’t want to," said Shayne Novikoff, Kahili’s mother. "After about a month, she started to acclimate real good."
Being on campus has been a big plus for academics, Novikoff noted. She has a 3.3 cumulative grade-point average and had a 3.8 in the recent third quarter. Living there has helped with athletics, as well.
"I started paddling in sophomore year and the bonds I made are so great. I kind of wish I started paddling freshman year," Novikoff said.
Next up for Kahili is a move to the Northwest. She will attend St. Martin’s, a Division II college in Washington. UH was interested, but by that time, the offer from St. Martin’s was too good to pass up.
"I visited with my mom during spring break and I liked it. At first, one of my options was to try rowing in college," she said. "But all the rowing schools I was looking at were on the East Coast and I kind of didn’t want to go that far, and rowing is different from paddling. Washington state is kind of perfect."
"I do want to go away," she said. It’s another opportunity for me to experience new things."
ILH VARSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Wednesday through Friday
At Kamehameha Schools
BOYS
Team–1. Punahou, 170 points; Kamehameha, 161.50; 3. Saint Louis, 51; 4. ‘Iolani, 47.50; 5. Saint Francis, 22; 6. Mid-Pacific, 20; 7. Pac-Five, 16; 8. Damien, 4; 9. Hawaii Baptist, 3.
EVENTS
Discus Throw–1. Kamuela Borden, Iol, 153-09; 2, JP Muasau, Pun, 149-02; 3. Jerrod Mose, Pun, 148-03; 4, Dakota Torres, Pun, 142-01; 5. Jonathan De Tamaso, DMS, 140-08.
Shot Put–1. Michael Mahuka, KS, 50-05; 2. Alema Kapoi, KS, 48-10.75; 3. Kamuela Borden, Iol, 48-07.50; 4. Lucas Beddow, KS, 46-07. 5. James Roy, DMS, 46-03.50.
Long Jump–1. Reece Alvarado, P5, 22-07; 2. Keola Pedrina, KS, 21-06.25; 3. Shayne Wolfe, KS, 20-11.25; 4. Kayson Smith Bejgrowicz, KS, 20-09; 5. Hunter Lee, Pun, 20-04.75.
Triple Jump--1. Drew Kobayashi, StL, 45-03; 2. Anthony Pataray, StL, 44-00.25; 3. Reece Alvarado, P5, 43-10.75; 4. Kayson Smith Bejgrowicz, KS, 43-09.50; 5. Nick Redlew, Pun, 43-01.
High Jump–1. Kayson Smith Bejgrowicz, KS, 6-00; 2. Hunter Lee, Pun, 5-10; 3. Matt Alfelor, Pun, 5-08; 4. Haku Durant, KS, J5-08; 5. Saili Petaia, Pun, J5-08.
Pole Vault–1. Brandon Hull, Pun, 13-06; 2. Quinn Cassidy, Pun, 13-00; 3. Akoni Kashima, KS, 12-06; 4. Reese Mitsuyasu, Pun, 12-00; 5. Tristan Emmons, Iol, J12-00.
110 Meter Hurdles–1. Mario Kaluhiokalani, KS, 15.49; 2. Griffin Saunders, Pun, 15.74; 3. Kamana Hobbs, Pun, 15.88; 4. Micah Liana, StL, 16.27; 5. Joseph Verghese, Pun, 16.42.
100 Meter Dash–1. Drew Kobayashi, StL, 11.33; 2. Keoni Makekau, Iol, 11.34; 3. Dylan Kane, KS, 11.38; 4. Keola Pedrina, KS, 11.46; 5. Carl Maybin, MPI, 11.56.
1500 Meter Run--1. Kaeo Kruse, KS, 4:02.49*; 2. Jac Hebert, Pun, 4:05.22; 3. Justin Park, Iol, 4:07.31; 4. Davis Kaahanui, KS, 4:11.73; 5. Connor Lehl, Pun, 4:11.88.
4×100 Meter Relay–1. Kamehameha Schools ‘A’ 43.52; 2. Saint Louis ‘A’ 43.84; 3. Punahou ‘A’ 44.37; 4. Mid Pacific Institute ‘A’ 44.99; 5. ‘Iolani ‘A’ 45.37.
400 Meter Dash–1. Justin Main, StF, 50.31; 2. Karl Reis, Pun, 52.04; 3. Igor Desuza, StF, 52.26; 4. Joshua Spencer, KS, 52.86; 5. Nate Ng, MPI, 53.15.
300 Meter Hurdles–1. Griffin Saunders, Pun, 39.88; 2. Kalen Lyman-Risso, KS, 41.74; 3. Mario Kaluhiokalani, KS, 41.96; 4. Kamana Hobbs, Pun, 42.93; 5. Joseph Verghese, Punahou, 43.24.
800 Meter Run–1. Jac Hebert, Pun, 2:01.01; 2. Gordon Kowalkowski, Pun, 2:01.89; 3. Brett Tsuzaki, Iol, 2:02.54; 4. Ian Gingerich, Pun, 2:05.43; 5. Joseph Screen, MPI, 2:05.78.
200 Meter Dash–1. Drew Kobayashi, StL, 22.78; 2. Dylan Kane, KS, 23.15; 3. Justin Main, StF, 23.44; 4. Kanawai Noa, Pun, 23.69; 5. Noah Sua-Godinet, KS, 24.06.
3000 Meter Run–1. Kaeo Kruse, KS, 8:56.54*; 2. Davis Kaahanui, KS, 9:06.50*; 3. Jac Hebert, Pun, 9:22.35; 4. Connor Lehl, Pun, 9:47.67; 5. Sebastian Barahal, Pun, 9:51.72.
4×400 Meter Relay–1. Punahou ‘A’ 3:29.81; 2. Mid Pacific Institute ‘A’ 3:30.67; 3. Kamehameha Schools ‘A’ 3:31.80; 4. ‘Iolani ‘A’ 3:37.96; 5. Hawaii Baptist Academy ‘A’ 3:47.45.
GIRLS
Team–1. Punahou, 184.50 points; 2. Kamehameha, 161.50; 3. ‘Iolani, 95; 4. Sacred Hearts, 27; 5. Mid-Pacific, 15; 6. Damien, 10; 7. Pac-Five, 2; 8. Hawaii Baptist, 1.
GIRLS EVENTS
Discus Throw–1. Kekahiliokalani Novikoff, KS, 129-01; 2. Tayler Anne Fitzsimmons, KS, 118-07; 3. Elizabeth Vaea, Iol, 116-03; 4. Tamlyn Kurata, Iol, 97-05.50; 5. Melenaite Vaea, DMS, 97-03.
Shot Put–1. Kekahiliokalani Novikoff, KS, 41-11.50; 2. Melenaite Vaea, DMS, 36-09.75; 3. Kaylen Higa, Pun, 33-07.50; 4. Bailey Wilson-Pena, KS, 32-11; 5. Shantel Aleki, KS, 32-05.
Long Jump–1. Sammy Marumoto, Pun, 17-07.75; 2. Pi’ikea Clemens, Pun, 16-07.75; 3. Ariana Felix, Iol, 16-06.50; 4. Ashley Osumi, Iol, 15-08; 5. Kylie Acoba, KS, 15-06.75.
Triple Jump–1. Kelly Watanabe, Iol, 34-07.25; 2. Rachel Dunn, Iol, 34-05.25; 3. Reyn Akiu, KS, 33-04.50; 4. Chrislyn DeMattos, Iol, 33-02.25; 5. Kamaile Kandiah, Pun, 32-05.50.
High Jump–1. Cassidy Apo, KS, 5-00; 2. Maya Kikuchi, Pun, 4-10; 3. Victoria Rooks, Pun, 4-08; 3. Chrislyn DeMattos, Iol, 4-08; 5. Hayley Morgan, Pun, 4-06; 5. Kealani Browne, KS, 4-06.
Pole Vault–1. Sammy Marumoto, Pun, 12-05*; 2. Phoebe Miller, KS, 9-06; 3. Jessica Lee, Iol, 9-00; 4. Romance Romero, KS, J9-00; 5. Megan Amanda Risso, KS, 8-06.
100 Meter Hurdles–1. Lindsey Combs, Iol, 15.40; 2. Maya Kikuchi, Pun, 16.65; 3. Emily Viola, Pun, 17.10; 4. Mikiala Ramos Kamaka, KS, 17.18; 5. Anuenue Zoller, Pun, 17.18.
100 Meter Dash–1. Erin Marks, KS, 13.15; 2. Tiffany Atud, SHA, 13.15; 3. Mackenzie Feldman, Pun, 13.44; 4. Kawai Santiago, Pun, 13.44; 5. Pi’ikea Clemens, Pun, 13.51.
1500 Meter Run–1. Teri Brady, Pun, 4:55.69; 2. Kai Hoshijo, KS, 5:04.53; 3. Hennessey Ellis, KS, 5:05.32; 4. Hallie Lam, Pun, 5:11.46; 5. Natashia Gomera, KS, 5:16.37.
4×100 Meter Relay–1. Kamehameha Schools ‘A’ 51.49; 2. Punahou ‘A’ 51.68; 3. Sacred Hearts Academy Jv/V ‘A’ 52.61; 4. ‘Iolani ‘A’ 52.73; 5. Mid Pacific Institute ‘A’ 54.89.
400 Meter Dash—1. Mackenzie Feldman, Pun, 1:00.28; 2. Alisha Kahele-Manners, KS, 1:00.97; 3. Kawai Santiago, Pun, 1:01.10; 4. Sarah Lau, KS, 1:02.43; 5. Anjelica Ledesma, MPI, 1:02.53.
300 Meter Hurdles–1. Lindsey Combs, Iol, 45.84; 2. Maya Kikuchi, Pun, 47.49; 3. Emily Viola, Pun, 48.03; 4. Emily McKenna, Pun, 49.69; 5. Kanani D’Angelo, Pun, 50.11.
800 Meter Run-–1. Phoebe Kirk, SHA, 2:16.39; 2. Kailey Totherow, Pun, 2:18.31; 3. Alice Liggett, MPI, 2:23.26; 4. Kai Hoshijo, KS, 2:25.48; 5. Ariane Roy, Iol, 2:27.14.
200 Meter Dash–1. Mackenzie Feldman, Pun, 27.57; 2. Janelle Stone, KS, 28.05; 3. Mikaylah Kaohu, KS, 28.11; 4. Sahara Richardson, Pun, 28.28; 5. Alisha Kahele-Manners, KS, 28.32.
3000 Meter Run–1. Noe Obermeyer, Pun, 10:50.76; 2. Amanda Beaman, Iol, 10:53.62; 3. Teri Brady, Pun, 11:18.23; 4. Hennessey Ellis, KS, 11:21.41; 5. Kai Hoshijo, KS, 11:27.20.
4×400 Meter Relay–1. Kamehameha Schools ‘A’ 4:04.78; 2. Punahou ‘A’ 4:08.21; 3. ‘Iolani ‘A’ 4:14.48; 4. Mid Pacific Institute ‘A’ 4:14.59; 5. Sacred Hearts Academy Jv/V ‘A’ 4:23.01.