When word got out Kaiser’s girls broke the 4×400-meter relay record at the Punahou Relays, they jumped, screamed and hugged each other.

It was another achievement for the Cougars, who are turning in faster times week after week.

One week after running state-best times in the 4×100 and 4×400, Kaiser’s girls surpassed those marks at Saturday’s Punahou Relays. The team of Tommi Hintnaus, Celine Lum, Kristen O’Handley and Teuila Gardner won the 4×400 with a meet record of 3 minutes, 58.84 seconds, improving their time of 4:04.46 from April 17’s Honolulu Marathon Invitational. The same four improved their 4×100 mark of 49.94 from the same meet with a winning time of 49.56.

“We’re definitely going to try our hardest to get the best times for ourselves,” Lum said. “We’re all aware there’s some really good competition out there.”

In events where precision and timing are critical in baton passes, Lum said her team’s friendship has helped their performances on the track.

“I honestly think that the No. 1 reason why we works so well is because we work so well together,” Lum said. “We’re all friends, we’ve grown together. Teuila and I are seniors, so we have the same classes. Tommi and Kristen are both sophomores and we’ve been working hard together and our coaches are always there for us always, giving us the extra advice and the extra time. They really put a lot of time into everything we do. I’m really grateful for them as well.”

The relays were two of four wins Kaiser celebrated throughout the meet. Lum won the pole vault after clearing 11 feet, 6 inches and Gardner won the high jump by handling 5-2. O’Handley was fourth in the high jump (5-0) and Hintnaus placed fifth in the pole vault (10-0).

“As a vaulter, it was an awesome experience because there were so many vaulters and so much talent,” Lum said. “I know some girls came in from the neighbor islands. It was really great competition to compete with everybody.”

Three meet records were broken on Saturday. Baldwin’s Kainoa Tom broke the meet mark of 15 feet in the boys pole vault by clearing 15-4. Tom then tried unsuccessfully at clearing 15-7, which is an inch above his personal best. Sean Fukuhara of Baldwin placed second (14-0) and teammate Jonathan You tied for fourth (13-6). Baldwin sprinters came over for the Honolulu Marathon Invitational.

“It’s good to see the competition,” Tom said. “I’m stoked, I cleared 15-4. That’s my second-best jump. Fifteen-seven felt really high. I just have to train harder at practice and hopefully I’ll get it.”

Athleticism and fast learning helped Jerri Maluyo contribute to Leilehua’s record in the 4×100 shuttle hurdle relay. Maluyo is a jumper (and basketball guard) who took a crash course in hurdling earlier in the week. She teamed up with Ky’Yonna Chapman, Annessa Turner and Ariel Cabello to turn in a time of 1:04.8, surpassing the previous record of 1:05.05. The same four won the 4×180 shuttle hurdle in 1:39.3, missing the record by 0.5 seconds.

“For me, it’s probably the best thing that’s happened to me this year,” said Maluyo, who also ran on the winning 4×200 team with Chapman, Turner and Alexis McKinney. “It’s exciting to see our team come closer. We wanted it. Our coach said we had to push and break it.

“It’s all technique (in hurdling), but my thing is to just get over it.”

Kailua’s Patria Vaimaona overcame nerves to win the girls discus (129-2) and shot put (36-71⁄2). The large crowd was not something she’s accustomed to.

“It’s not usually like this, you see everybody at the sides,” Vaimaona said.

Kamehameha’s Kayson Smith-Bejgrowicz won the boys triple jump (45-7) and high jump (6-2) and ran on the winning 4×200 relay team. ‘Iolani’s Kamuela Borden won the boys shot put (51-8) and discus (166-5), and ran on the second-place power relay team that consisted of throwers. The event is one of two unique to the Punahou Relays. The other is the 100-meter dash for Hawaii’s Fastest Human, won this year by Saint Louis assistant coach Jonathan Mendoza.