Hurricanes Are Calm Going Into Track Championships

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A relaxed air has always permeated the Kapolei girls track and field practices. As the Hurricanes finished their final preparations for this week’s Island Movers Hawaii State Track and Field Championships, the atmosphere is loose as always, according to coach Gary Ellison.

“I don’t put pressure on them,” he said.“We try to always keep the girls real relaxed so they can just go out and have fun. The day before a meet, we like to play a game. We’ll do a workout, and then we’ll hang out. We want them to be ready to run the next day. Our girls have always stepped it up at states. We usually have kids come home with medals.”

Hopes are high again this week for the Hurricane girls team, which will have six players compete either individually or as part of relay teams. Kapolei is coming off a stellar regular season that saw them take second in the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s Western Division to perennial state powerhouse Mililani. The Hurricanes finished fifth in the OIA overall. With a junior-dominated roster, Kapolei could be an even bigger factor in track and field in 2008.

“We’ve kind of lived in the shadow of Mililani, but we can make a real strong run in the OIA next year,” Ellison said.“We’ll have a lot of strong runners, although we’re still a small team (with 10 members).”

In Tamara McGee, the Hurricanes also offers one of the top individual performers in the state. She recently won the 200 Meters (25.69) and finished second in the 100 to Mililani stand-out Britney Stephens. McGee had beaten Stephens in the 100 twice before during the regular season. McGee also is a key member of both the 4x400 and 4x100 meter relay teams that qualified for this week’s state meet.

“She had an awesome year, and we’re looking for big things from her next year,” Ellison said. “She’ll be working out during the summer. I think she has the ability to be ranked nationally.”

McGee will not take part in this week’s state meet, however, as she will be on a trip to the Mainland. The state meet, on Friday and Saturday at Maui’s War Memorial Stadium, had originally been scheduled a week earlier, but was moved back by the OIA, creating a conflict for her family, which had scheduled its vacation around the earlier date.

“They weren’t able to make changes,” Ellison said of their travel arrangements.

Teammates Brittney Ervin and Jara Leanio will take her place in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays, respectively.

Senior Megan Armstrong and junior Victoria Black will compete on both relay teams, while Dana Tamayo will run the 4x400.

As one of the team’s few upper-classmen, Armstrong’s leadership skills have paid dividends, according to her coach.

“She motivates the girls - they respect her,“Ellison said.“She’s the big sister of the team, and she’s been huge for us as far as the relays go.”

“And Victoria’s toughness has really come out the last few weeks,“Ellison added of Black, who will also compete individually in the 400 meters.“She had strained her quads at the beginning of the year, but she’s worked really hard (to come back). She keeps everyone working hard and in line with her personality.”

In distance running, Kawailelenani Carmack qualified for the Hurricanes in the 3,000 meter run.

“Determination is her strength - she pushed and pushed herself to qualify,” Ellison said.“She’s done a lot of self-coaching. She knew she had to improve her time, and she did it.”