Cynthia Monteleone recently won the gold medal in the Women’s age 40-44 400-meter race with a time of 58.17 at the World Age Group Championships at Touri, Poland. She also ran a leg on Team USA’s four by 100- and four by 400-meter relays.

LAHAINA – As a mentor and for her personal accomplishments, Lahaina’s Cynthia Monteleone is a gold medalist.

The 43-year-old married mother of three young daughters is currently completing her fourth year as the head coach of the Lahainaluna High School track and field team.

And, at the same time, she competes at the highest levels of the Women’s Age Group Track and Field Championships – both internationally and here in the U.S.A.

Monteleone returned to Maui last week after winning the gold medal in the Women’s age 40-44 400 meters with a time of 58.17 at the World Age Group Championships at Touri, Poland. She also ran a leg on Team U.S.A.’s four by 100- and four by 400-meter relays.

Her time in the 400 was faster than her best collegiate effort over 22 years ago.

Track athletes aim to qualify for the Maui Interscholastic League Track and Field Championships next week at War Memorial Yamamoto Stadium. The Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Championships will be held the following week in Honolulu.

“It’s never too late to be who you might’ve been,” Monteleone commented after winning the international gold.

She mentors the Luna track and field student-athletes along with her husband, Zane Monteleone, as well as assistants Justine Bell, Lauren Amano, Chris Meares and Steve Fisher.

The girls’ roster includes Kalea Acevedo, Lanz Aguinaldo, Faith Bell, Chiarra Clark, Sirrany Lopez, Gracie Marchesi, Alexis Nordblum, Isabella Omura, Arabello Silao, Lokilani Smith, Isabella Theobald and Trisha Vann.

The Luna boys’ lineup is made up of Isaiah Bell, C-Jay Caguioa, Apakasi Felemi, Johann Flores, Walker Hermann, Nainoa Irish, Nico Knickerbocker, Donovan Lopez, Justice Perriera Aquino, Blare Silva Viela and Jonathan Segura.

Coach Cynthia had high praise for team captain Gracie Marchesi in saying, “Gracie is our team captain and the inspirational leader of the team. She has qualified for states in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles. Also, Apakasi Felemi ranks number one in the discus event and in sixth in the shot put.”