Laiana McClinton: First Polynesian heritage athlete to win 100m and 200m State titles at high school meet
Laiana McClinton won both the 100m and 200m titles at the Florida State High School Athletics competition.
Photo:
Supplied
A Florida based high school student has become the first Polynesian heritage athlete to win both the 100 and 200 metre titles at the Florida State High School Athletics competition.
Laiana McClinton, who has links to Tonga and Samoa, won both events on Tuesday, claiming two gold medals along the way.
McClinton stopped the clock at 11.75 seconds in the 100m and 23.67 seconds in the 200m.
It is not the first time either the high school student has won in competitions across Florida, having dominated the Largo High School sprint events in the past few seasons.
She has also become the first student from her school to win the events since 1992 - 33 years ago.
Laiana McClinton stopped the clock at 11.75 seconds in the 100m and 23.67 seconds in the 200m.
Photo:
Supplied
Proud mother Janesia Tautalatasi said on her social media posts that the achievement was a big reward and she was proud of what her young daughter has been able to achieve.
"The biggest reward as a mother is being able to step back and watch your children flourish in life and strive to become greater versions of themselves all by the Grace of God!," she said.
"All the many sacrifices, countless tears and silent struggles you go through as a single mother makes proud moments like this worth it!
"Double State Champion! Super proud of this girl!
"She put in real blood, sweat and tears into this season and this was her reward!"
Laiana McClinton won both the 100m and 200m titles at the Florida State High School Athletics competition.
Photo:
Supplied
She thanked coach Jamar Parker "who played a big key in her high school success".
"He pushed her all season and set high goals for her," she stated.
"Thanks Coach Tite for all that you do."
The Largo High School Track and Field team congratulated McClinton, adding she has re-created history.
"Congratulations to our very own Laiana McClinton (Junior) on accomplishing the amazing feat of winning the 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash at the FHSAA Class 4A State Championships (STATE CHAMP X2)," they said on their Facebook page.
"Laiana is the first Girls Track and Field champion from Largo High School since the feat was accomplished in 1992, 33 years later."
Laiana McClinton with her medals and her relatives after her title wins.
Photo:
Janesia Tautalatasi
Proud mum Tautalatasi said her daughter has strong Polynesian bloodlines, connecting her to both Samoa and Tonga./
"She is Tongan, Samoan and African American," she said.
"Her Polynesian bloodline on both sides are very athletic. Her Tongan side is the Sikahema bloodline from Vava'u."
She is related to Vai Sikahema, the first Tongan to go to the NFL.
"My dad and Vai's dad are brothers," she revealed.
Her Samoan side is the Tautalatasi bloodline.
That makes McClinton a direct relative of Nico Iamaleava and Junior Tautalatasi, who also was one of the early Samoan NFL players.
"So saying all her athleticism came from one side is not true," her mum said.
"She has the best of three worlds!! She embraces all three and her winning the state championship in the 100m and 200m in one of the fastest and competitive states in the country might not be a big deal for some but to our family and our people it is a milestone."
Laiana McClinton has links to Tonga and Samoa.
Photo:
Supplied
Tautalatasi said this is just te beginning.
"We don't have alot of Polynesian sprinters," she wrote on her page.
"Thank you for all your love and support for my daughter.
"This won't be the last time you see or hear from her."
Her blood ties makes the young champion eligible to represent either Samoa, Tonga or the United States of America.
Aunt, Sina Sikahema, said her niece's achievement "isn't just a victory! it's a moment that will live on for our people, our culture, and our legacy".
Sikahema said winning the titles during the Pacific Island Heritage Month was big.
"Polynesians belong on every stage and now, the track too. She did it during Pacific Islander Heritage Month, no better time to show the world what we're made of!
"This is for Tonga. This is for Samoa. This is for every young Islander girl who dreams big."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
12 hours ago
- RNZ News
NBA: Buzzerbeater gives Indiana Pacers win over Oklahoma City Thunder in finals opener
Indiana hadn't led in the game until Haliburton drained the shot with 0.3 seconds remaining. Photo: AFP Guard Tyrese Haliburton hit a 21-foot pull-up jumper in the final second, as Indiana Pacers enjoyed a stunning 111-110 comeback win over Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Pacers hadn't led in the game, until Haliburton drained the shot with 0.3 seconds remaining. The best-of-seven series resumes with Game 2 in Oklahoma City on Monday (NZT). Indiana trailled by 15 early in the fourth quarter, before chipping away at the Thunder lead to ultimately win the final quarter 35-25. Oklahoma City forced plenty of turnovers, especially early, but the Thunder couldn't take advantage often enough, scoring just 11 points on Indiana's 25 giveaways. The Pacers turned the ball over 20 times in the first half alone. Early in the fourth quarter, Indiana were barely hanging on. Down by 13, the Pacers missed three consecutive shots on one possession. - Reuters
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Early Sports Chat for 6 June 2025
A young sprinter says that officials "stole her moment". Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- RNZ News
Auckland City's Club World Cup campaign includes football giants
Auckland City striker Angus Kilkolly and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane will play in the same group at the Club World Cup. Photo: Photosport/AFP A "bunch of amateurs from New Zealand" will live out their football dreams at the Club World Cup. Auckland City are the only amateur side to qualify for the expanded 32-team tournament in the USA, starting on 15 June. Auckland have represented Oceania 11 times at the Club World Cup with a best result of a third place in 2014. But this year is different. This year Auckland City have been drawn in the same group as six-time European champions Bayern Munich, Portuguese heavyweights Benfica and Argentina's Boca Juniors. Auckland's high profile opponents have brought a lot of attention to what the club are trying to accomplish, striker Angus Kilkolly said. "But at the same time, we're still a bunch of amateurs from New Zealand who dream of playing football on the world stage, and then go there and do the best we can." Auckland City, a club established just 21 years ago, may lack the history of some clubs at the tournament and operate with a smaller budget without the same state-of-the-art facilities of powerhouse professional sides, but the Club World Cup could be the "peak" of some players' careers and is an opportunity for the club to reach new audiences. When the draw for the tournament was made in late 2024 Auckland City general manager Gordon Watson said the club's story "resonates not just with football fans but with people from all walks of life". "Representing Mount Roskill, Mount Albert, Sandringham, and all corners of our domestic football pyramid-including the wider Pacific region-is both a privilege and a responsibility," Watson said. Angus Kilkolly of Auckland City FC celebrates his goal with Nathan Lobo. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ This tournament will be the fifth time that Kilkolly has played a Club World Cup, once previously with Team Wellington and the rest with Auckland. To be drawn in Group C "was probably what we all kind of dreamed about", Kilkolly said. "No matter who we got drawn against we would have been underdogs regardless. So I'd rather be an underdog against some of the powerhouses of European football and South American football. "For us to be drawn against some household names and playing against some household sort of players, in a sense, I don't think we could have wanted anything different, really." Kilkolly has nothing but good memories from playing football in different parts of the world with Auckland City since he joined the club in 2020, and he recognised what this type of tournament could do for his team mates and him. "We've got some young boys who are obviously hoping to go and have careers in pro football so this is a great opportunity for them to test themselves and see if they're at that level, or how far away they are from that level. "We've got other players, probably the bracket I'm more in, who have been to a few Club World Cups this is probably the peak of our careers. "I think we're going there a little bit naive and going there for dream and a bit of a hope that we can come back with our own special story." By expanding the Club World Cup, FIFA has changed the way it is run. The format mirrors a 32-team international World Cup. Eight groups of four teams in each. The top two teams from each group will make it through the last 16, while the bottom two teams in each group will be eliminated. Cross over games will happen with the last 16, with the winners of those games moving on to the quarterfinals, semifinals and final. "Normally would go to a tournament that has seven teams" Kikolly said, "Would play a one off game. If we win, we play another one. If we lose, we come back. "The difference with this one is we get a group stage. We know we've got guaranteed of three games in the tournament. "A big positive for us is sometimes these previous Club World Cup games, we maybe took 30 minutes to get up to the speed, because the speed is a completely different level to what we used to. So to have three games, it gives us an opportunity to really get to our peak and show what we are capable of." More games also meant more opportunities for playing minutes for the wider squad. "Normally it's a one off game you might only have the starting 11 and three or four subs, so there definitely is spots up for grabs in every game, and with tournament football I don't know if anyone's really fit enough to play back to back 90s the whole way through." When Auckland City arrive in USA they will have a training camp, play some friendly games against Philadelphia Union before facing UAE giants Al Ain FC, and then a week later go into the FIFA bubble. "We're giving ourselves the best opportunity to get over there early, get climatised, play against some good opposition, so when that first game does come around, it's not as big of a jump as it would be going straight from New Zealand to there." Bayern Munich's Harry Kane. Photo: INA FASSBENDER Several European players and coaches have raised concerns over player welfare with the revamped Club World Cup meaning less time off between seasons. Bayern Munich's striker and England captain Harry Kane was vocal about the increased games and shorter rest periods. "I don't think the players are listened to that much, if I'm totally honest. But also everyone wants their piece, their tournament, their prize, and the players are kind of the people who have to get on with it," Kane said. "But it is what it is. I love playing football, so I'm never going to complain about playing football. I think if you manage it well, with your coaches and your manager and your clubs, there are ways of getting more rest in certain moments. "But it's not an easy question, it's not an easy situation. I think there could be a balance from both sides, but we'd have to see how that pans out." The Professional Footballers' Association has also taken legal action against FIFA, calling the football calendar "overloaded and unmanageable." According to FIFPRO, the global union for professional players, Club World Cup-bound players are among the most overworked for the 2024/25 season already, with Benfica's Kerem Akturkoglu making the most appearances (55) followed by the likes of Real Madrid's Luka Modric (54); Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez and Real's Federico Valverde are among players on 53 appearances up until 1 April. It is estimated that Uruguayan Valverde, who has made 43 back-to-back appearances up until 1 April with less than five days of recovery time prior to these matches, could potentially reach 65 back-to-back appearances for club and country come the end of the season, racking up close to 7000 minutes and 78 games. Auckland City play in the New Zealand domestic football competition (Northern League, National League Championship and Chatham Cup) and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Champions League. Auckland City FC captain Mario Ilich celebrates with trophy and team. Birkenhead United FC v Auckland City FC, Men's National League Football final at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ The build-up to the Club World Cup has included 19 matches across three competitions since March. "Our schedules are hectic for an amateur team that everyone works sort of 40 hours a week to be playing 45 games. That definitely takes its toll and it is a big sacrifice being made by everyone to keep giving the club success," Kilkolly said. Auckland will take a squad of up to 27 players to the USA. Before they left for the tournament on 2 June, they played a Northern League game against West Coast Rangers on the May 30 and a Chatham Cup game against Onehunga Mangere United the following day. Kilkolly could see the benefit of two games in three days before travelling across the world. "When there is a lot of games in a short period of time, it does make it easier to make sure everyone is match fit, because everyone wants to be going to America fully fit, fully ready to play and contribute as much as they can to the team." Auckland City captain and defender Mario Ilich made his debut in 2012 and has been a stalwart of the defence ever since, playing 161 matches and even scoring 13 goals. A typical day in his life reflects the balance Auckland players need to find to keep playing. "Wake up at 5am, gym, breakfast, then off to work by 7.30, finish by 5, straight to training for two hours, home by 8.30 or 9, dinner, and then do it all again." Similar to Kane, Auckland players also give up time off (annual leave) to attend to the Club World Cup. "For a lot of us our workplaces understand the enormity of what we're going to do. My manager loves football, so he understands it's an awesome experience for me," Kilkolly said. "On the downside of it, I won't have any annual leave left when I get back. There won't be any other trips coming up anytime soon." Bayern Munich - The most successful club in German football history celebrated the first of their 34 league titles in 1932. Bayern won 11 consecutive league titles between 2013 and 2023 and won the latest season 2024/25. The club has also had success outside Germany with six UEFA Champions League titles (previously the European Cup), two Intercontinental Cups and two FIFA Club World Cup trophies. Bayern won the Club World Cup for the first time in 2013 and again in 2021. Notable players include England captain centre forward Harry Kane, German midfielders Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich, French winger Michael Olise and Canadian left back Alphonso Davies who is currently injured. German forward Leroy Sané could be gone by the time the Club World Cup starts and former German international striker and club legend Thomas Müller is leaving at season's end which might mean he doesn't play in the Club World Cup. SL Benfica players Photo: VALTER GOUVEIA Benfica - The club from Lisbon has more than 120 years of history and has spent 91 years in Portugal's top flight competition. The club is celebrated for historic European Cup victories and a world-class academy. Benfica won the Portuguese League Cup for the eighth time in the 2024/25 season and finished second in the premier competition. Notable players include Spanish midfielder Álvaro Carreras, Portugal centre back António Silva and Greek centre forward Vangelis Pavlidis. Boca Juniors' midfielder #22 Kevin Zenon Photo: ALEJANDRO PAGNI Boca Juniors - One of South America's most decorated clubs was formed in 1905 and has gone on to be one of the most successful clubs in the world. The Argentinian powerhouse has 18 international titles and 52 domestic crowns including six Copa Libertadores title. Often associated with Diego Maradona and a fervent fanbase. Notable players include winger Kevin Zenón, Uruguay forward Miguel Merentiel and left back Lautaro Blanco Europe: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Inter Milan, FC Porto, FC Salzburg. South America: Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, River Plate, Botafogo. North and Central America and the Caribbean: Pachuca, Monterrey, Seattle Sounders, Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC Africa: Al Ahly, Wydad, Esperance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns Asia: Al Hilal, Al-Ain, Urawa Red Diamonds, Ulsan HD Paris Saint-Germain players Desire Doue (L) and Marquinhos celebrate after their Champions League quarter-final second-leg match against Aston Villa. Photo: AFP The winners of this year's tournament will earn up to $218 million, FIFA said, from a total prize pot of $1.74 billion. About half of the total prize money will be divided between all 32 clubs, with the amount per club based on sporting and commercial criteria, meaning clubs such as Manchester City and Real Madrid will receive a greater percentage than smaller clubs. A further $827 million will be awarded on a performance-related basis. Auckland City are set to receive $6.25 million for participating, as well as a potential $2.5 million for any win. The tournament will be held in 12 stadiums around the USA from 16 June -14 July.
