HHSAA State Track and Field Championships

At the last two state championships, Mtume Msizkizi-Jackson found himself answering that question.

Now, the state will know.

Kea'au High School hosts the Island Movers/ Hawai'i High School Athletic Association State Track & Field Championships. Kea'au, located about 15 minutes south of Hilo, is the first Big Island school to host the state meet since it began in 1959.

"It's the 10th year anniversary of our school and we have a pretty brand new track," said Msizkizi-Jackson, a senior who won the boys long jump and was second in the high jump and triple jump at Saturday's Big Island Interscholastic Federation championships. "To me it's where I perform my best in track & field."

Trials will start with the discus at noon today, with field events following at 2:15 and running events at 3:15.

Top qualifiers will advance to tomorrow's finals. Field events start at 3:30 p.m. and running events follow at 5:40. (Live stats will be available at www.kautech.com/results.)

Punahou won the last two boys team titles while Kamehameha won the girls title last year.

While traveling off island offers its own fun and adventures, nothing beats the convenience and familiarity of staying at home.

"When you go off island, you eat at Taco Bell," said Hilo senior Mark Turner, who won the boys 1,500 and was second in the 3,000 at the BIIF championships. "You don't get the full nutrients you need to run a 1,500 or 3,000 in one day."

Added Ka'u's Jacob Edwards, this year's BIIF boys track & field athlete of year: "It feels like we have an extra weapon in our back. We know what weather to expect, what the track feels like. Every track is different."

Edwards won the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and triple jump, was second in the long jump and fourth in the 200 at the BIIF championships. He finished second in both hurdles at last year's state meet at Mililani.

Kea'au's throwing area is off to the side of the track, but has a hill for spectators.

"My basketball coach (Bradley Estabilio and his family) will come down to watch," said Kohala senior Julia Naumes, who finished third in the girls discus and second in the shot put at the BIIF championships. "He's very inspirational for me.

"It's going to be really exciting to have people watch us and there's going to be a turnout for the throwers. We get kind of left out sometimes."

Naumes, who did track since elementary school, took up throwing as an eighth grader in Idaho because of her asthma. She's done everything since to better herself, from running cross country in the fall to cross training. When Kohala needed a runner for it's 1,200-meter leg of the distance medley relay several weeks ago, Naumes filled in. She will throw at Pacific (Oregon) University next year.

Ku'uipo Nakoa didn't realize "how bad my form was" until she attended a camp last summer at UCLA. Refining her technique and learning from her sprint coach at Hawai'i Prep has led to a breakout season, which included being named BIIF girls track & field athlete of the year after winning the long jump, triple jump, 200 and running on the first-place 4x400 relay team, and finishing second in the 100 and 4x100 relay at the BIIF championships.

"When I go down there, I'll think it's a track meet, but it states, there's lights, crowds, people flying in," Nakoa, a junior, said. "I know having it here changes it a lot. I think for all of us, this isn't just a track meet, it's states, it's on our island. Hopefully we'll do OK."