Kualapu`u School “Represents” At Honolulu 5K for Kids

Boy's 11-12 Winner Kaina Adolpho (left) and third place finisher Rafael Adolpho (right). Photo courtesy Matt Helm

Community Contributed

By Sue Forbes

Kualapu`u School team runners did Molokai proud this past weekend at the Honolulu 5K for Kids by taking two age group titles and placing eight of the ten team members in the top ten for their age group. Leading the boys, Kaina Adolpho, ran a stellar race winning the boy’s 11-12 title in a time of 23:04. Close behind came teammates Rafael Adolpho and Nainoa Kahale placing third and fourth in times of 24:08 and 24:15, respectively. Other standout performances for the boys included Ikena Deponte, fifth in the boy’s 9-10 age division, in a time of 27:18, CJ Adolpho 11th in the boy’s 9-10’s in a time of 28:38, and Ikua DePonte, 13th in the boy’s 11-12’s, in a time of 25:47.

For the girls, the dynamo of the day was Keahe Ross. Running in her first off-island race, Keahe dominated the competition, winning the girl’s 9-10 title in a time of 25:19. Two minutes later in a duel to the finish, Noelani Helm sprinted past teammate Genevieve Kikukawa, to claim second place in the 9-10’s in a time of 27:28. Genevieve placed seventh in the girl’s 11-12 age division in a time of 27:39. Moments later, in through the finish shoot zoomed Ayla Rose Naehu-Ramos finishing in a time of 28:05 good for fourth place in the girl’s 9-10’s.

As Coach Matt Helm stated after the race, “The kids really did a great job this weekend and represented their island well. They should be proud of their results considering the size of the field.” Over 1,400 runners participated this year.

Molokai’s event organizers would like to thank our extended Molokai community for their support. On Oahu the runners were fed and given the use of a van by our Molokai ohana: Tony Negrillo, Ben Balete, Jadelyn and Bo Pontes. Without their support and the ongoing support of Molokai’s running community, this trip would not have been possible. Mahalo.