The Kaiser Track Team is ending their season with a blistering finish. As the Varsity Team advances to States this week, some star athletes have risen up during the OIA East Championships.
Rocco Calandra, a Sophomore, is going to States to compete in the Boys 1500 Meter after placing second alongside fellow Sophomore, Emersyn Knoeck, placing third in the Girls 400 meter relay with her teammates Rachel Hamasaki, Jocelyn Thomas, and Dahlia Monson. Rachel Hamasaki placed third in the Girls 3000 Meter.
“I love the rush I get when I perform well in a race,” says Calandra. “It feels really satisfying to perform really well at something you’ve spent a lot of your time perfecting.”
While the Track Stars have been excelling, the field team hasn’t been slacking off either. Isa’ako Sopoaga placed second in shot put while Samisoni Mafi placed third in Discus. Samantha Vaughan soared against her competitors, placing third in pole vault. Morgan White leaped to the top, placing second in High Jump and first in Long Jump. Kealia Kamalani also excelled, placing third in the 200 Meter and third in the High Jump.
Sophomore track runner Ansel Bliemeister shares his reasons why he chose to do this sport. “I really enjoy the challenge that running gives me, not competing against others, but instead with myself,” shares Bliemeister. “This challenge helps to motivate me to perform better every time I run.”
Sopaoga agrees with Blimiester, believing that the community in Track and Field was very strong. “I love trying to perform the best I can against my competitors from other schools…as well as my own skills.”
“I feel that [Track and Field] is the purest sport there is,” shares Blimeister. “There’s a reason these competitions have been around for thousands of years. You either run, jump, throw better than your competition, or you lose. There’s no outside interference in this sport or any other kind of biases.”
The Kaiser Track team hopes to finish their successful season with results just as good as those in OIA’s while competing in States. Wish our Cougars success as they race to the finish of their 2025 season!
