Not All About Winning At Youth Track Meet

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Those who have tired of the win-at-all-costs mind-set that sometimes pervades big-time athletics could have their faith in sports restored by visiting Wednesday morning’s Mililani Complex Invitational Track Meet.

The meet, which takes place today (May 20) Mililani High School, has the motto “CHARACTER COUNTS! Mililani Complex Invitational Track Meet: Pursuing Victory with Honor"and will feature fourth- and fifth-grade competitors from seven elementary schools in the Mililani and Leilehua complexes.

The track meet’s mission, as established by the vice principals, is to promote character while pursuing victory with honor in friendly competition. “This is a goodwill activity,” states the mission, “and all coaches and teachers are expected to actively teach, enforce, advocate, and model good character on and off the field.”

The complex schools, in partnership with Mililani High, coordinate their annual track meet to promoting and practice of the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. It also comes with a handy guide to ensure that the athletes’ well-being always is placed above the desires and pressures to win.

“The meet gives the young kids an idea of what it’s like to experience competition,but it’s done with good sports-manship,” said Mililani Ike coach Steven Hokama, who expects to have 32 kids competing. “We’re trying to get them ready for the next level, which is the Intermediate level.”

The ultimate level within this community is, of course, at Mililani High School, whose tradition in track and field is second to none in OIA circles. The opportunity to compete at the high school is a big thrill for the young competitors, according to Hokama.

“No. 1, they get to run on a real track,“he said.“We usually just practice on our own field near the school. No. 2, there will be thousands of people there, and that’s a good crowd for kids that age.”

The meet is big for all involved for another reason, too: It’s the one and only meet for participating schools, which are Mililani ‘Ike, Kipapa, Mililani Mauka, Mililani Uka, Mililani Waena, Hale Kula, Solomon and Wheeler elementary.

Hokama’s team will have logged a month of practice prior to Wednesday’s meet, which will have five individual events as well as three relays.

“Some schools were practicing even earlier, before spring break,” he said. “The kids look forward to it. We’re a competitive community as far as athletics go. And with all the opportunities available to these kids, this might be the only track(-related) event they take part in at this age.”

For Mililani Ike, much of its practice has focused on the relays, where the baton exchange between players is critical. “I think a lot of us work on that,“he said.“Every leg of a relay is important, and it also leads us back to the ‘team-thing.’”

Unlike high school-level track meets, team scores won’t be kept at Wednesday’s meet, which is expected to run from approximately 9 to 11:15 a.m. Individual ribbons will be awarded for first, second, third and fourth place in each event.