When Emma Taylor heard about her team’s plan to win a state title this year, she was in disbelief.
Hawaii Prep had just three athletes score at last year’s state track and field championship, which was enough to finish as runner-up. This year, Ka Makani brought a bigger squad to move up the podium.
Hawaii Prep won its first team title since 1995 at Saturday’s Island Movers/HHSAA State Track and Field Championships at Kamehameha. Ka Makani finished with 57 points to edge defending champion Kaiser, which totaled 55.
“It’s funny, because at the beginning of the year, my coach said we’re going for the state championship and I was like ‘OK, whatever, we can’t do that,’ ” said Taylor, a senior who won her fourth title in the 100-meter hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles. “I didn’t even think we were close. As the season progressed and we were getting closer and closer. It’s just amazing to finish like this with my team.”
Ka Makani were third in the team standings before pulling ahead late in the meet. Taylor won the 300 hurdles and finished second in the 200 to score 18 points for Ka Makani. Savannah Cochran finished second in the 800 to score eight points.
Hawaii Prep had 53 points heading into the 4×400 relay and Kaiser had 45. Kaiser finished first to score 10 points and Hawaii Prep finished fourth to score four points. Taylor ran the lead leg of the 4×400.
“Because we were so close in points, I was willing to do it,” Taylor said of taking on extra events. “I did it at BIIF (championships) so I knew I was capable of doing it. And then I knew all my other teammates would be trying their best and pull their weight and it worked out. I don’t regret it at all.”
Kaui Taylor repeated as state champion in the high jump. Ka Makani built their points around the two Taylors, who are cousins, and with athletes scoring points in various events. Kaui finished sixth in the long jump and the Taylors were on the 4×100 relay team that finished fourth. Zoe Ganley, a freshman, ran the 4×400 for the first time.
“Emma did great, Kaui did great, but it was everyone chipping in one point, two point,” said Hawaii Prep coach Pat Lau.
Kaiser’s Kristen O’Handley won the 100 and 200 dashes and finished second in the 400. O’Handley, who placed sixth in Friday’s high jump, helped the Cougars finish fifth in the 4×100 relay.
Kihei Charter’s Maya Reynolds repeated as the 400 champion. Phoebe Kirk of Sacred Hearts repeated as the 800 champion and won the 1,500. ‘Iolani had two champions in Maia Graham (discus) and Jessica Lee (pole vault)
Other winners were Kamehameha’s Kayla Afoa (long jump), Kahuku’s Bradina Anae (shot put), Waiakea’s Thelma Marshall (triple jump), St. Andrew’s Jordan Jones (3,000) and Punahou’s 4×100 relay team.