Twenty-five students are competing for the Maui Preparatory Academy track and field program this season.

NAPILI — The Maui Preparatory Academy track and field program tripled in size for the 2023 campaign, as 25 student-athletes competed for Na Pueo this season. Made up of predominantly freshmen and sophomores, many of them were new to the sport and had some hard work cut out for them from the very start.

But head coach Sandy Henry, herself a former high school sprinter and cross country mentor, describes the young Na Pueo team as “…very competitive, and the junior and senior athletes are very willing to what is needed to be done as well as encourage their new teammates to push themselves harder to accomplish their goals.”

Coach Sandy also works with the cross country team at Maui Prep, and coaches the school’s cheerleading team. She is assisted by Victor Andrade with the track and field program.

“Coach Andrade is a tremendous help to me and the student-athletes, especially with our on-campus practices and at Kahana Ridge, Napili or Kapalua.” Also on staff are Dennis Nakamura and Keenan Reader.

As the Maui Interscholastic League season reaches the homestretch of the 2023 season, Na Pueo are looking to solidify their rankings in several key events, with hopes of qualifying for the State Championships next month.

Leading the way are junior Pierce Armstrong in the 400-meter event and Mercedes Armstrong in the 100m and 200m sprint races. Also setting school records this year were the Boys 400m Relay team of Cameron Henry, Andy Webber, Noah Caiserman and Pierce Armstrong; and the Boys 4 x 400m Relay lineup of Andy Webber, Kai Godwin, Cameron Henry and Pierce Armstrong.

In the girls’ events, records were set by Luseane Taufa in the discus and by the 4 x 100 Relay team of Lola Doherty, Alyssa Arango, Emi Burman and Mercedes Armstrong.

The team manager is Bishop Worth, and sophomore Kai Godwin is the team captain. The roster includes seniors Andy Webber, Emerson Flores, Hailey Chang, Lusy Taufa and Bishop Worth; juniors Pierce Armstrong, Kira Newton and Lola Doherty, sophomores Kai Godwin, Noah Caiserman, Kyli Beam, Mayson Miles, Johnnie Holland and Alyssa Arango; and freshmen Stella Garnier, Kailee DaProza, Cameron Henry, Emi Burman, Thomas Tingle, Zach Thomas, Jonas Vasquez, Arianne Chacon, Mercedes Armstrong, Leah Burns and Dalilah Winston.

The coaches expressed appreciation to Athletic Director Zach Bailey and Athletic Trainer Annalisa Figueroa, Team Mom Shawna Chang, the athletes’ families, the Maui Prep ohana, Thad Henry, and all the MIL coaches, including Michael Ban of Maui High, in putting on the meets.

Coach Sandy concluded by saying, “I’m so proud of these athletes, They had fun and really gave it their all! I look forward to the future of our track and field team with hopes of even getting bigger and breaking more records.” “Know the name — Maui Prep!”