King Kekaulike High School’s Ja’lyn Deichert wins the girls 100 meters during the Island Movers/HHSAA track and field state championships at Yamamoto Track & Field Facility on Saturday. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos
WAILUKU — At the Maui Interscholastic League track and field season opener, King Kekaulike High School’s Ja’lyn Deichert didn’t know if she would even qualify for the state championship.
On Saturday, Deichert was crowned a two-time state champion with wins in the 100 and 200 meters in front of a home crowd of family, friends and teammates during the Island Movers/HHSAA track and field state championships at the Yamamoto Track & Field Facility.
“It feels so good, I honestly didn’t think I’d get here,” Deichert said after sprinting a time of 12.13 seconds in the girls 100. “My year has been a bit shaky, but what our coaches trained us to do, it really came into focus today.”
Besides staying healthy and fit, what made the biggest difference from MIL meet No. 1 back in early March to now was Deichert’s mindset, like knowing she was capable of more.
“I got put in the (4×400 relay), I didn’t think I could do it, but being put in that definitely helped,” she recalled. “It made me think, like, whatever happens, happens, and it just changed my whole mentality just for this.”
Deichert (left) gets a hug from teammate Ruby Kessler after they received their medals for the girls 100. Kessler finished fifth.
Deichert was the lone girl from the MIL to win state gold Friday or Saturday.
In a photo-finish effort, Deichert and two other competitors charged neck-and-neck down the last 30 meters of the 200, clocking in just hundredths of a second apart. Following a protest and review, state officials ruled Deichert as the champion with a time of 25.23 seconds. Mililani’s Deiona Carter was second in 25.24 and Iolani’s Mia Shepard ran a 25.25.
“After the turn, we were all fighting for first,” Deichert said. “I definitely understand that it was really hard to tell. … We all didn’t know who took first.”
Following an emotional hug with Na Alii head coach Jesse Henderson after the ruling, the sophomore added that she “felt like crying all day.”
“We’ve been working hard all year,” she said.
Maui High’s Kiera Sam Fong, shown during the MIL championships, took home silver Saturday in the discus.
Na Alii’s Ruby Kessler, who finished fifth in the 100 with a time of 12.60, joined Deichert, Kalena Akinaka and Lola Richardson in finishing third in the 4×100-meter relay in 50.18 seconds behind Mililani (49.58) and Punahou (49.72).
In her first-ever state championship experience, Maui High freshman Kiera Sam Fong earned a silver medal in the girls discus throw with a mark of 113 feet, 5 inches. Iolani senior Brooke Naniseni (120-4) took gold.
“It’s definitely really nerve-wracking because there’s so many people, especially girls that are older than me, so it’s kind of crazy but they’re all really nice,” said Sam Fong, who was also eighth in the shot put on Friday. “It was really crazy at first, but there’s just so much aloha spirit and it ended up being a lot of fun.”
After exceeding her expectations for the season, she confirmed with a strong “yes” that she’ll be competing for the Sabers again next year.
“I just came out to have fun and just be a part of something, and so it’s kind of crazy coming to states and getting to silver in this,” Sam Fong said.
King Kekaulike’s Ja’lyn Deichert (left) wins the girls 200 Saturday in a photo finish.
Maui showed up strong in the girls 3,000 as Seabury’s Priana Dugied chased down runners on the final stretch to claim the bronze medal with a personal-record time of 11:05.25.
“It feels great, it really feels great,” Dugied said. “I think I was just thinking, like, ‘This is my last race ever, my last track race.’ I really just wanted to give it my all and have no regrets and get onto the field and be like, ‘Shoot I should have gone faster.’ So yeah, I just wanted to give it my all.”
The senior took off and held the lead for a few laps until Mililani’s Zola O’Donnell surged ahead to win her second gold of the night, finishing well ahead of the pack in 10:29.79. O’Donnell also won the 1,500.
“It’s just been the most amazing experience. The group of Seabury boys and girls are the best people ever,” said Dugied. “We have the most amazing coaches. It’s such a beautiful community and I’m glad I got to be a part of it.”
Maui High’s Ashley Tarasenko earned points for her team by finishing fifth in 11:06.69.
Seabury Hall’s Priana Dugied leads the pack early in the girls 3,000.
Also on Saturday, Charli Kennedy of Le Jardin broke a decades-old girls high jump record with a mark of 5 feet, 6 inches. It was previously held by Kahuku’s Natasha Kai, who jumped 5-5 in 1999.
Tatum Moku of Kamehameha Kapalama hit the gold rush, too, this weekend as she left the Valley Isle with five medals around her neck. Moku sprinted back-to-back races to finish first in the 100 hurdles and then fourth in the 100 just a few minutes later. Then, she got third in the 300 hurdles.
“I’m feeling great honestly, the 100 was kind of for fun because I don’t think anyone thought I was going to run it, but it’s my senior year, so I just want to do everything I can,” Moku said after stepping off the podium. “I’ve been training since last summer, just everything, you know, I really just wanted to try my best because it’s my senior year.”
On Friday night, she claimed golds in the pole vault and the long jump. Moku, who cleared 12-6 Friday, still holds the pole vault state record from last year when she vaulted 13-1. Moku’s brother, Tanner, also has a state record in the boys 300 hurdles (38.07), which he set in 2019.
“He is actually sitting up over there,” Tatum Moku said while pointing into the stands. “They’re all super proud of me for that.”
The King Kekaulike girls 4x100 relay team of Deichert (from left), Kalena Akinaka, Ruby Kessler and Lola Richardson pose with their bronze medals.
In the team scores, Punahou won with 67 points. Mililani was second with 58 points and KS Kapalama was third with 55 points. King Kekaulike finished the state meet with 28 points for fifth place.
* Dakota Grossman is at dgrossman@mauinews.com.
*****
Island Movers/HHSAA Track and Field State Championships
Friday’s and Saturday’s Finals
At Yamamoto Track & Field Facility
(Note: For field events, top 8 plus MIL competitors are listed)
Girls
Team–1. Punahou 67, 2. Mililani 58, 3. Kamehameha Kapalama 55, 4. Iolani 44, 5. King Kekaulike 28, 6. Roosevelt 25, 7. Le Jardin 24.5, 8. Hilo 22, 9. Hawaii Baptist 20, 10. Kalaheo 19, 11. Radford 17, 12. Kaiser 14, 13. Kahuku 12, 14. Maui High 10, 15. Hawaii Prep 9, t16. Mid-Pacific 8, t16. Waiakea 8, 18. Moanalua 6.5, t19. Seabury Hall 6, t19. Konawaena 6, t19. Maryknoll 6, t19. Castle 6, 23. Kauai 5, t24. Kealakehe 4, t24. Kapolei 4, t24. Campbell 4, t27. Leilehua 3, t27. Island School 3, t29. Farrington 1, t29. Baldwin 1.
100 meters–1. Ja’lyn Deichert, King Kekaulike, 12.13; 2. Deiona Carter, Mililani, 12.29; 3. Apetahi Anderson, Kahuku, 12.32; 4. Tatum Moku, Kamehameha Kapalama, 12.39; 5. Ruby Kessler, King Kekaulike, 12.60; 6. Malia Rose Harvey, Maryknoll, 12.61; 7. Katie Marquardsen, Kahuku, 12.63; 8. Violet Schaut, Konawaena, 12.72.
200–1. Ja’lyn Deichert, King Kekaulike, 25.24; 2. Deiona Carter, Mililani, 25.25; 3. Mia Shepard, Iolani, 25.26; 4. Malia Rose Harvey, Maryknoll, 25.53; 5. Katie Marquardsen, Kahuku, 25.64; 6. Amelia Stebe, Radford, 25.95; 7. Kelsey Ann Sato, Punahou, 26.18; 8. Violet Schaut, Konawaena, 26.19.
400–1. Mia Shepard, Iolani, 57.13; 2. Jordan Davenport, Hawaii Baptist, 58.84; 3. Amelia Stebe, Radford, 59.07; 4. Aileah Villatora, Kauai, 59.66; 5. Liliana DeSouza, Island School, 59.84; 6. Caroline Betlach, Hawaii Prep, 59.91; 7. Sierra Long, Pearl City, 1:00.45; 8. Freya Carlsen, Seabury Hall, 1:02.20.
800–1. Kekaihulali Halpern, Hilo, 2:19.33; 2. Kelsey Carvill, Le Jardin, 2:20.50; 3. Ashley Kodama, Hawaii Baptist, 2:21.59; 4. Kimberly McCoy, Kaiser, 2:22.18; 5. Maila Healing, Iolani, 2:24.27; 6. Amelie Loomis, Kalaheo, 2:27.95; 7. Noelle Lezy, Punahou, 2:30.20; 8. Renn Tanitomi, Iolani, 2:31.48.
1,500–1. Zola O’Donnell, Mililani, 4:50.09; 2. Kekaihulali Halpern, Hilo, 4:51.21; 3. Ashley Kodama, Hawaii Baptist, 4:54.59; 4. Isabella Ford, Punahou, 4:57.72; 5. Amelie Loomis, Kalaheo, 4:58.96; 6. Emma Burgess, Kauai, 5:00.94; 7. Eve Cody, Kalaheo, 5:04.54; 8. Cozette Wood, Kealakehe, 5:04.87; 9. Kamaira Silva, Kauai, 5:07.35; 10. Kyle Hasegawa, Punahou, 5:08.58; 11. Kekaimalino Halpern, Hilo, 5:09.01; 12. Dahila Monson, Kaiser, 5:09.89.
3,000–1. Zola O’Donnell, Mililani, 10:29.79; 2. Eve Cody, Kalaheo, 11:04.25; 3. Priana Dugied, Seabury Hall, 11:05.25; 4. Kekaihulali Halpern, Hilo, 11:05.48; 5. Ashley Tarasenko, Maui High, 11:06.69; 6. Amelie Loomis, Kalaheo, 11:08.79; 7. Emma Burgess, Kauai, 11:10.46; 8. Ellie Ikemura, Mililani, 11:12.83; 9. Cozette Wood, Kealakehe, 11:18.76; 10. Madeline Grant, Moanalua, 11:27.96; 11. Kekaimalino Halpern, Hilo, 11:31.80; 12. Rachel Hamasaki, Kaiser, 11:42.57; 13. Sophia May, Mid-Pacific, 11:45.44; 14. Kamaira Silva, Kauai, 11:48.20; 15. Madison Murata, Kamehameha Kapalama, 11:51.13; 16. Samantha Morinaga, Kalani, 11:51.45; 17. Ashlyn Jacobsen, Campbell, 11:51.73; 18. Kacey Miura, Kalani, 12:01.65; 19. Elisa Childers, Kealakehe, 12:02.87; 20. Lili Blair, Punahou, 12:07.03; 21. Cassie Chong, Mililani, 12:11.82; 22. Maya Schneider, Hilo, 12:23.37; 23. Eryn Bunton, Hanalani, 12:27.69; 24. Ariana Cadina, Roosevelt, 12:32.72.
100 hurdles–1. Tatum Moku, Kamehameha Kapalama, 14.39; 2. Nala Stojadinovic, Punahou, 14.73; 3. Tiana Burgess, Roosevelt, 15.02; 4. Jazmin Smith, Moanalua, 15.64; 5. Maya Yoshimura, Punahou, 15.72; 6. Saraya Burghardt, Kamehameha Kapalama, 15.78; 7. Tessa Onaga, Iolani, 16.13; 8. Maya Pacarro, Kamehameha Kapalama, 16.43.
300 hurdles–1. Nala Stojadinovic, Punahou, 45.15; 2. Destiny Look, Mid-Pacific, 45.71; 3. Tatum Moku, Kamehameha Kapalama, 46.40; 4. Saraya Burghardt, Kamehameha Kapalama, 46.85; 5. Camryn Smith, Radford, 47.01; 6. Laule’a Ah Mook Sang, Punahou, 47.30; 7. Devon Hall, Roosevelt, 47.94; 8. Tiana Burgess, Roosevelt, 49.11.
4×100 relay–1. Mililani (Haylee Jarvis, Ciara Conley, Ayanna Rivera-Gaines, Deiona Carter) 49.58; 2. Punahou 49.72; 3. King Kekaulike (Lola Richardson, Ruby Kessler, Kalena Akinaka, Ja’lyn Deichert) 50.18; 4. Kapolei 50.95; 5. Leilehua 51.66; 6. Baldwin (Kayla Lyn Kaanana, Realani Sabado, Aaliyah Racadio-Kahoohanohano, Jesscelia Kekahuna) 51.73; 7. Maryknoll 52.41; 8. Waiakea 52.61.
4×400 relay–1. Punahou (Dalen Lau, Kylie Moniz, Nala Stojadinovic, Xevani Salanoa) 4:06.77; 2. Radford 4:08.72; 3. Konawaena 4:12.36; 4. Iolani 4:14.33; 5. Hawaii Prep 4:15.69; 6. Island School 4:16.79; 7. Kalaheo 4:23.03; 8. Kaua’i 4:24.13.
Shot put–1. Valo Sopoaga, Kaiser, 39-5; 2. Lulu Uluave, Punahou, 35-10.50; 3. Pilialoha Lloyd, Punahou, 34-1.50; 4. Serenity Lepaga-Telona, Campbell, 34-1.50; 5. Tehani Samuelu-Tuatagaloa, Mililani, 33-9; 6. Elena Belen, Waianae, 33-8; 7. Lemoe Kim, Farrington, 33-6.50; 8. Kiera Sam Fong, Maui High, 33-5.50; 22. Kamy-Ann Kamai, King Kekaulike, 27-1.
Discus–1. Brooke Naniseni, Iolani, 120-4; 2. Kiera Sam Fong, Maui High, 113-5; 3. Trinity Talaipa, Kamehameha Kapalama, 111-4; 4. Bethani Kaleleiki, Kamehameha Kapalama, 107-10; 5. Atina eleila Fonoti, Mililani, 107-8; 6. Nanea Cobb-Adams, Iolani, 105-6; 7. Serenity Lepaga-Telona, Campbell, 99-7; 8. Callie Katsura, Punahou, 99-3.
High jump–1. Charli Kennedy, Le Jardin, 5-6; t2. Olivia Holmquist, Kalaheo, 5-2; t2. Alexis King, Iolani, 5-2; 4. Talia Threlkeld, Hawaii Prep, 5-2; 5. Elaina Head, Hawaii Prep, 5-0; 6. Jah-Naya Reyes-Duffey, Roosevelt, 5-0; 7. Lexi Fujita, Iolani, 5-0; 8. Vanessa Steenhuis, Kaiser, 4-10; 15. Norah Brown, King Kekaulike, 4-8; t19. Kalena Akinaka, King Kekaulike, 4-6.
Pole vault–1. Tatum Moku, Kamehameha Kapalama, 12-6; 2. Analissa Paresa, Waiakea, 11-2; 3. Kacy Katsuda, Castle, 10-2; 4. Siena Jacobson, Iolani, 10-2; 5. Reese Pascua, Moanalua, 9-8; t6. Robin Dallas, Moanalua, 9-2; t6. Charli Kennedy, Le Jardin, 9-2; t8. Ashley Matsuura, Moanalua, 9-2; t8. Lily Barrett, King Kekaulike, 9-2; t11. Myla Tuitele, Kamehameha Maui, 9-2; 15. Allie Kennedy, Kamehameha Maui, 8-8; 17. Kiana Downs, St. Anthony, 8-8.
Long jump–1. Tatum Moku, Kamehameha Kapalama, 18-5.75; 2. Tiana Burgess, Roosevelt, 17-10; 3. Kelsey Carvill, Le Jardin, 17-6; 4. Layla Grace, Kealakehe, 16-7; 5. Apetahi Anderson, Kahuku, 16-2.25; 6. Myesha Graham, Leilehua, 16-1.75; 7. Tessa Onaga, Iolani, 16-0.50; 8. Kanoe Haneberg, Kapaa, 16-0.25; 21. Maja Szpunar, King Kekaulike, 15-1.50.
Triple jump–1. Tiana Burgess, Roosevelt, 38-6; 2. Julia Carmona, Mililani, 36-6.25; 3. Laule’a Ah Mook Sang, Punahou, 35-5.50; 4. Xevani Salanoa, Punahou, 35-4.50; 5. Apetahi Anderson, Kahuku, 34-10.50; 6. Kiani Panoke, Maryknoll, 34-7; 7. Tamilyn Ebisu, Baldwin, 33-8.25; 8. Kanoe Haneberg, Kapaa, 33-7.50; 22. Kalena Torres-Estores, Baldwin, 30-9.25.
Kamehameha Kapalama’s Tatum Moku wins the girls 100 hurdles to add to her medal haul.
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