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The Winter Olympics were great! I loved every bit that I watched on T.V. and feel proud that the United States did so well. The people of Utah and the Olympic Committee should also feel proud that they put on a spectacular event that will not soon be forgotten.

Although the Olympic T.V. coverage was very exciting I was also thrilled that our Kona Community Aquatic Center was the site of last weekend's Hawaii High School Athletic Association swimming and diving championships. If you missed this meet, especially the finals on Saturday, you definitely missed one of Kona's most impressive and exciting sporting events ever.

The atmosphere at the pool was great with packed bleachers, full of cheering fans, family and friends. Kealakehe High School, their head coach Steve Borowski, and a great bunch of volunteers did a wonderful job of hosting the event that brought together all of our state's best swimmers and divers.

Saturday's finals saw the eight fastest qualifiers or relay reams in each of the day's 24 event battle it out for both individual medals (top 5) and team points that would decide this year's Hawaii High School champion. The past four decades have seen Punahou School of Oahu dominate the team championships by winning 41 of 44 girls crowns and 39 of 44 on the boy's side.

Before the meet, Punahou knew that once again they had a shot at both titles but the boys of Iolani would be hard to beat and on the girls side the Buffanblu had to contend with both Iolani and our Big Island's own Waiakea Warriors. Every race of the day was incredible with close finishes and state records falling one after another.

When the day's final event arrived, the Iolani boys were in command with Punahou in second but the girls competition was much tighter with Waiakea in first at 47 points and Punahou a tad behind with 46. With excitement overflowing both teams lined up for the day's grand finale, the 400 yard freestyle relay. Waiakea and Punahou quickly pulled out to the lead in the center lanes and remained side-by-side throughout the 16 length race.

Finally, on the final length, Nicole Okuna and Waiakea put on a finishing kick that brought her to the line just inches ahead of Punahou's Annie Richardson. The stands erupted and the Big Island had it's first ever girls state swimming championship. Both teams smashed the previous state record of 3:37.83 with their times of 3:33.49 and 3:34.80. The Warriors ended up with 59 points to Punahou's 54. Iolani was a ways back in third with 39.

The boys finale saw Punahou put out a gutsy effort by winning the 400 free relay in a new state record time of 3:10.44 but it just wasn't enough as Iolani took the team title with their total of 91 points. Punahou at 52 and Seabury Hall of Maui at 18 wrapped up the top three.

The Waiakea girls performance inspired me so much that I instantly named them and their coach Dan Lyons as my Frozen Pea Productions Sports Persons of the Month for February. The six girls that scored all 59 of their points and knocked off the state's perennial powerhouses were Tamarah Binek, Nicole
Okuna, Cassie Kaapu-Lyons, Marlene Yafuso, Whitney Nekoba and Jessica Bartolome. All six of these champions showed true team spirit over individual glory. Okuna even gave up the opportunity to win an individual medal by swimming in all three relay events which earn double the points of an individual race.

Coach Lyons also did a great job setting up a roster that allowed his small team of finalists to make the most of their talents. Binek was certainly the star of the day with 4 gold medals, two individual (50 & 100 free) and two relay. Both relay wins set new state records. Lyons and his dynamic squad earned a total of 8 medals during the day, 5 gold, 2 silver and one 4th place.

Kaapu-Lyons, who took gold on their 200 medley relay, also earned individual gold in one of the day's best races, the 100 yard breast stroke. She just edged out Carly Omizo of Iolani and Karly Kopra of Hawaii Preparatory Academy with a time of 1:06.19. Omizo followed at 1:06.20 with Kopra inches back at 1:06.65.

Congratulations to the Waiakea girls team and Coach Lyons for their outstanding accomplishment.

The meet also saw many other amazing efforts put out by our Big Island swimmers. Countless personal bests were recorded during the two days of swimming. Often times these bests were several seconds better. which is huge in the sport of swimming.

Besides Waiakea's championship, the Kealakehe girls team placed 8th buoyed by two incredible swims turned in by Ashley and Megan Rose. The super sisters both earned medals in the 100 yard backstroke with huge personal best times. Ashley clocked in at 58.80 for 2nd place, Megan followed a stroke or two later in 4th place with a time of 59.70. Karly Kopra scored enough points to earn H.P.A. an 11th place tie.

The boys of H.P.A. were our top B.I.I.F. team placing 5th with 11 points. Kealakehe's fabulous foursome of Sean Cooney, Puna Moku, Aaron Boranian, and Chandler Nacino scored 7 points to take 8th. St. Joseph's scored 5 for 12th and Hilo's lone point scorer, Greg Takeshima, earned one point in 2-meter diving to give his school 14th place.

Overall the Big Island earned 11 girls and 8 boys medals. A total of 10 new state records were added to the books following the two days of swimming.

Finally, you may have read Ron Eland's article last week about Hawaii Preparatory Academy's swimmer Justin Lee who overcame early childhood cancer to become one of our state's best swimmers. Well, on Sunday Lee's smile glittered gold as he swam to a gold medal in the 100 yard freestyle. Lee also added a bronze in the 50 free and a 5th place medal in the 200 free
relay. Lee is proof that a smile and a great attitude can overcome
anything.

On Sunday morning Team Mango kept the excitement in Kona with their 10th Annual Spring Triathlon. A 1/4 mile swim started the morning off in a frenzy with Brett Phillips of Oahu outswimming Moose Mullahey, Paloma Vidgen and Jimmy Louis.

During the 14 mile ride, Gary Shields hammered past everyone and reached the transition with a lead of about one minute on Thomas Pavel. Shields, who has won everything from Peamans to Ultramans, held his lead over the 2 mile run course and clocked in at 54:23. Pavel followed at 55:02. Pat Neill in 1:00:22 and Dave Kinsey at 1:00:46 were close together for third and fourth. Adrian Aponte ran strong and moved up to take fifth at 1:01:10.

The 2001 ladies champ, Melanie Lomaglio, repeated as champion with a wire-to-wire victory. She clocked in at 1:01:44, much faster than her 2001 time of 1:07:45. Millie Cooke and Deanne Mitchell waged a close war for second and third. Cooke hit the tape at 1:04:12 with Mitchell close behind in 1:04:22.

The finned title went to Thor Stensby at 1:12:21. In the relay race the mighty father and son duo of Bruce (swim-bike) and Morrison Stewart (run) teamed up for the victory with their time of 1:08:05.

Next up on the Team Mango schedule will be the Pedal-2-Pauls time trial hill climb on Sunday March 24th. Info seekers can call 324-7252.

Finally in a bit of catch up news, the Big Island Road Runners Club held their President's Day-Valentine Love Run on Monday February 18th. The afternoon 3.1 mile event saw U.H. Hilo star runners Ikaika Ho and Alistair In tied for first in 17:12. Dan Goltz closed out a fast top three with a time of 17:36.

U.H. Hilo's top wahine runner, Colleen Cassidy, blazed to the ladies title in 18:32. Topping the baby stroller category was Jesse Ebersole and his little one Jamie. They powered the course in 18:41. The keiki one miler brought another first place tie with Nina Jeffrey and Raycee Cooke clocking in with a very impressive time of 5:56.

The next B.I.R.R.C. event will be the traditional Hilo To Volcano
Ultramarathon and Relay on Saturday March 23. This year's 31.1 mile race will be very casual with everyone supporting themselves and using the show-up-sign-up format. Call Millie or Gary Cooke at 959-6438.

This Sunday (March 3rd) will be highlighted by the free and fun Peaman Plunge and Plod Biathlon. Race apps and entry fees are not necessary, just a good attitude and the desire to swim 1/2 mile and run 4 miles. Start time will be 8:00 a.m. and as usual relay teams, finned swimmers, or even finned runners, are welcome to join the pod. A 200 yard swim and 1 mile run Pea Wee course will also be available for the young or young at heart. Call 324-PEAS with questions, comments or free food.

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