La‘akea Aiu

Class:
Senior
Events:
110m Hurdles / 400m Hurdles
Hometown:
Kane'ohe, Hawaii
Height:
6-0
High School:
Kamehameha Schools Kapalama
Squadron:
24 Phantoms

JUNIOR YEAR | 2020-21: Competed in the 400-meter hurdles during six outdoor meets…claimed all-conference honors after placing third at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships (career-best 52.73)…finished second at the Baylor Invitational (52.92)…earned additional top-five finishes at the West Coast Classic (third) and Aztec Invitational (fourth)…raced five different distances during the indoor season…tallied a season-best time of 8.53 in the 60-meter hurdles at the Air Force Holiday Open…ran a season-best 400-meter time of 49.68 at the Air Force Collegiate Open…competed in the 200-meter dash, 300-meter dash and 55-meter hurdles once.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2019-20: Competed in four different events during the indoor season...clocked a career-best 60-meter hurdles time of 8.63 at the Air Force Holiday Open...also competed in the 500-meter dash at that meet (1:09.01 debut)...posted a personal-best 400-meter time of 50.25 at the Don Kirby Invitational...capped the season with a career-best 200-meter time of 22.86 to finish fifth at the Air Force Collegiate Open.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2018-19: Scored for Air Force in the 400-meter hurdles at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships...posted a time of 55.08 to finish eighth at the conference meet...recorded a team-leading time of 54.03 to finish fourth at the Jack Christiansen Invitational...won that event at the UNC Invitational (54.14) and Air Force Twilight Open (54.93)...competed in the 100-meter dash three times, clocking a career-best time of 11.43 twice (Doug Max Invitational, Jack Christiansen Invitational)...participated in four different events during the indoor season...posted a career-best 60-meter hurdles time of 8.71 at the Air Force Invitational...also competed in the 60-meter dash (7.34, Mountain Lion Invitational), 200-meter dash (23.04, Air Force Team Challenge) and 400-meter dash (51.18, Colorado Invitational) during the indoor season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Kamehameha Schools Kapalama...two-time conference champion in the 300-meter hurdles...also earned a runner-up finish in that event at the 2015 meet...placed second in the 300-meter hurdles at the Hawaii state championships in 2016...four-year varsity letterwinner...member of three state championship teams...served as team captain for two years...also competed in water polo...earned second-team all-conference honors as a goalie...all-star selection...placed second in the state for the online media portion of high school newspaper as a junior.

PERSONAL: Full name is Quade La‘akeaikekoaohiwahiwa Aiu...goes by La‘akea...son of Kekoa and Kim Aiu...has two sisters (one older, one younger)...majoring in social sciences...future plans include becoming a fighter pilot (A-10/F-15), JAG, or working in the Special Forces…named to the “500 Club” every year after recording perfect scores on the PFT...currently serving as Athletic Programs NCOIC...named to the Athletic Director’s List...attended the Academy’s Prep School...was one of three preppies to be nominated for the most athletic cadet-candidate...loves everything involving the ocean – surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, boogie boarding, body boarding, amateur free diving and wading in the currents...also enjoys cooking and making meals for his family when he’s home...would like to add that “I’m very thankful to have been given the opportunity to represent my school and nation through track and field, and can’t wait to make a name for myself in DI college track”...worked Basic Cadet Training over the summer, serving as cadre on the Leadership Reactionary Course…also had an EOD/SMO support role on the Assault Course (“working in Jack’s Valley gave me the opportunity to truly understand what leadership is, and execute/practice different styles of leadership with my peers and the Basic trainees we had under our control”)...member of Cadet Squadron 24.