HAWAII STATE MEET

Keane Palmer, Zola O'Donnell Prove Fastest In The Islands

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The top cross country athletes in Hawaii gathered in Kauai on Saturday for the Honolulu Marathon/HHSAA State Championships. 

Keane Palmer from Iolani, who faced mainland runners in two meets this fall, edged out Yuta Cole from Kalani to win the boys individual title over 5,000 meters. Palmer ran 16:29 and beat Cole by a second. 

Palmer was the top Hawaiian finisher, 17th, at the Iolani Invitational on Sept. 10. He also traveled to the West Coast and finished 22nd at Nike Portland XC in the Division 1 varsity race. 

Palmer was one of five Iolani runners in the top 23 on the way to the team championship. It was Iolani's first win since a three-year run from 2015-17. 

Zola O'Donnell from Mililani (Big Island) improved from eighth place a year ago to win the girls championship race. The senior ran 19:07.9 and won the race by 13 seconds. O'Donnell is undefeated this fall. 

Senior Isabella Ford, the 2021 champion, finished second and led the Punahou School to its 10th straight team title with 38 points. Punahou, which finished second to Dana Hills CA at the Iolani Invitational, packed all five scorers into the top 17. 

Sophomore Halpern Kekaihulal from Hilo High was third. 

Hawaii Baptist swept the Division 2 team titles for the second sraight year. Aaron Kondo (Seabury Hall) and Shelby Tanaka (Hawaii Prep) were both repeat champions. 

Team Champions - 

Division 1 - Iolani boys 57 points, Punahou School girls 38 points - RESULTS

Division 2 - Hawaii Baptist boys 41 points, Hawaii Baptist girls 29 points - RESULTS