The Punahou girls and Kamehameha boys claimed the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) track and field championships on Friday at Kunuiakea Athletic Field, delivering a night of standout performances and record-breaking moments.
Buffanblu sprinter Emily Sparks stole the spotlight, shattering four records, but her first thoughts were for her teammates. "All of my teammates stepped up. Hayden Wong was PRing in everything. My soccer teammates Olivia Schiel and Maya Yoshimura, too," Sparks shared, showing the team-first spirit that defines champions.
Sparks blazed to a 12.11-second finish in the 100 meters, breaking Lauren Dignam's 24-year-old state meet record. Wong, Yoshimura, and Schiel followed closely behind, showcasing Punahou's depth. Sparks drew inspiration from her mother, Tracee, and aunt Diane Kawahara, both University of Hawaii stars, as well as her late grandmother, Nancy Kawahara, who passed away during the season. "We spent a lot of time together. She gave me this chain. I always know she's looking out for me," Sparks said, her voice filled with emotion.
Sparks also set a meet record in the 200 meters with a time of 29.94 seconds, with Wong again taking second at 25.37. The quartet of Schiel, Yoshimura, Wong, and Sparks then combined for a meet record in the 4×100 relay, clocking 48.03 seconds. Sparks, who plans to play soccer at Seattle University and major in art and education, showed humility about her own achievements.
Mid-Pacific's Destiny Look was a force of nature, winning three events and taking second in another. Look dominated the 100-meter hurdles in 14.07 seconds, won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 1.75 inches, and the triple jump with 41 feet, 0.5 inch. She added a second-place finish in the shot put with 32 feet, 9.5 inches, just behind Kamehameha's Dream Malo-Wiggins at 32 feet, 11.5 inches. Look's performance accounted for nearly half of the Owls' 80 points, securing fourth place. "I'm glad I'm not a hurdler," Sparks joked, acknowledging Look's prowess.
Punahou's girls dominated with 166 points, well ahead of 'Iolani's 89. The boys' competition was tighter, with Kamehameha edging out 'Iolani and Saint Louis, who tied for second with 112 points. "I don't think this was our plan," Kamehameha boys coach Pili Kitashima admitted, crediting Tyler Love-Tabion's unexpected victory in the 110 meters for 10 crucial points and his second-place finish in the 300 hurdles for eight more.
Kalei Harbottle was a powerhouse for Kamehameha, winning the shot put with a massive 64 feet, 3.75 inches—breaking his own state record—while teammates Alfred Gomes and Kaimana Fake took second and third. Harbottle also dominated the discus with a throw of 172 feet, nearly 20 feet ahead of Punahou's Maximum Orem.
Looking ahead, the OIA championships are set for today at Mililani starting at 4 p.m., with the HHSAA state championships next week at Kamehameha. These athletes are proving that hard work and heart can rewrite the record books.