Laiana McClinton: First Polynesian Heritage Athlete To Win 100m And 200m State Titles At High School Meet
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.
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!"
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."
Samoa and Tonga links
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."
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
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Dominant New Zealand Win OFC U-16 Women's Championship 2025
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation New Zealand started the second half picking up where they left off in the first, setting up camp in Samoas half comfortably, and were almost immediately rewarded after a lovely turn and shot from Robson that she was unfortunate to see rebound … Samoa's hopes of making history on home soil were dashed by three first half goals from a determined New Zealand side. New Zealand perhaps didn't come into this game as the clear-cut favourites like they had done in previous years, having been put under immense pressure by New Caledonia in the semi-final, going into half time 1-1 before eventually prevailing 4-2. Samoa, meanwhile, had enjoyed a dominant win over Solomon Islands in their semi-final, which saw them enter the final as the only team at the tournament not to have conceded a goal. It took minutes for New Zealand to put paid to that record, as Lania Fili became the first player to breach the Samoan net receiving the ball with acres of space and time outside the Samoan penalty area she was able to pick out the top corner leaving Margaret Fagasuisui Tuii stranded. Undeterred, Samoa pressed back, with Cali Willis, a stalwart of the hosts' 2024 history-making side, particularly dangerous down the left flank. New Zealand, however, were keen to put the game beyond doubt as soon as possible, and took that opportunity in the 17th minute through a swift counterattack, ultimately producing a penalty after Mia Humphrey was obstructed in the penalty area. Captain Amelia Hitchcock duly stepped up to double her side's lead from the spot. New Zealand's third came courtesy of a well-worked corner routine, with Ariana Vosper's corner finding Isla Robson at the near post, and the forward glanced her header past Fagasuisui Tuii to take her side into the first half's cooling break comfortably in control. New Zealand started the second half picking up where they left off in the first, setting up camp in Samoa's half comfortably, and were almost immediately rewarded after a lovely turn and shot from Robson that she was unfortunate to see rebound off the crossbar. Samoa upped the ante, and Brielle Tautua was unlucky not to pull back a goal for Samoa on the hour mark, herself finding the goalframe off a corner. Aaliyah Johnson then took up the mantle to try and drag Samoa back into the game, with her strength and determination fashioning several opportunities for herself from range, but she was unable to hit the target. Ultimately, New Zealand's first half goals were insurmountable for a persistent Samoa side to overcome, and the holders sealed a seventh straight win in the OFC U-16 Women's Championship. HT: 0-3
Scoop
05-08-2025
- Scoop
Kiwis And Kiwi Ferns Set To Play Four Blockbuster Test Matches In Aotearoa In 2025 Pacific Championships
Auckland, New Zealand - The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns are back on home soil for 2025, with New Zealand Rugby League, in partnership with the NRL, set to host four exciting Test matches as part of the Pacific Championships. This will see a double-header between the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns and Toa Samoa and Fetu Samoa respectively at Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland's Go Media Stadium on Sunday 19 October. Then on Sunday 2 November another fiercely contested double-header will take place at Eden Park with the Kiwi Ferns taking on the Australian Jillaroos before the Kiwis face Tonga. 'Rugby league Test matches don't get much better than the Pacific clashes set to be held in Aotearoa this year,' says NZRL CEO Greg Peters. 'We know the staunchly proud Tongan and Samoan fans especially will come out in force, celebrating their teams and culture in what will be unmissable matches. 'With the growth of the women's game too, having the Kiwi Ferns back in Auckland for two matches this year, where they have a strong supporter base, is pivotal in inspiring the next generation of female fans and young players in the game.' Set against a near sell-out crowd last year, Pacific rivals Tonga took down the Kiwis in a thrilling 25-24 match. This year the Kiwis will be looking to not only reverse the result but make a statement in the competition as they look to the Rugby League World Cup in 2026. With current champions, the Australian Kangaroos, heading to the Northern Hemisphere, the title is up for grabs, and the Kiwis will be wanting to lift the trophy again after winning the inaugural championships in 2023. The Kiwi Ferns too will be looking to claim back their 2023 title, a series that saw them defeat the Australian Jillaroos for the first time in 7 years. Those heroics unfortunately couldn't be repeated last year, going down in the final 24-4 to the Jillaroos. The match-up against Fetu Samoa will however offer the Kiwi Ferns a new test, having not played Samoa since 2020. Pacific Championships The Pacific Championships features two tiers – the Pacific Cup and the Pacific Bowl – with the competing nations going head-to-head in a round robin format before the top two teams in each tier head to the finals, to be played again at CommBank Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns schedule Sunday 19 October - Go Media Stadium, Auckland Kiwi Ferns vs Fetu Samoa Kiwis vs Toa Samoa Sunday 2 November - Eden Park, Auckland Kiwi Ferns vs Australian Jillaroos Kiwis vs Tonga Sunday 9 November - CommBank Stadium, Sydney Grand Finals, men's and women's Notes - Interview footage available: Download interview footage with Georgia Hale (Kiwi Ferns captain), James Fisher Harris (Kiwis captain) and Stacey Jones (Kiwis coach) here:
Scoop
05-08-2025
- Scoop
Tonga Strike Late To Stun American Samoa And Boost Their Semi-final Hopes At OFC U-16 Women's Championships
Tonga have come from behind to claim a crucial 2-1 victory over American Samoa in their second Group B match at the OFC U-16 Women's Championship in Samoa. The result keeps Tonga in with a chance of reaching the semi-finals while American Samoa are on the brink of elimination after two straight defeats. American Samoa who should have got something out of their opening match against Solomon Islands, started the brighter of the two sides and created a couple of half chances in the first 10 minutes. Tonga's first chance came in the 14th minute when Polini Ta'ofi fired a left footed effort straight at American Samoa keeper Leila Salausa. In the 20th minute American Samoa took the lead through 14 year old Diamond Joung who split the defence, showed terrific composure to step off her left foot and rifle a stinging right footed shot past Temaleti Taufaao in the Tongan goal. It was no less than the American Samoa side deserved following an enterprising start. But it also sparked Tonga into action. In the 30th minute Tonga had a golden opportunity to equalise when captain Sophiana Moala broke through down the right, but her shot was fired straight at Salausa. India-may Mann then forced a strong save diving to her left from Salausa to push the ball behind for a corner in the 36th minute. The pressure kept mounting though and Mann made no mistake in first half injury time, finding Salausa off her line she played a superb chip to level the scores at the break. Tonga missed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 65th minute when Salausa brought down Angel Mailangi in the box and referee Malaetala Salanoa pointed to the penalty spot. But captain Sophiana Moala fired her attempt wide of the left hand upright. The decisive goal came in the 86th minute when 'Emeline Sau pounced on a rebound after the ball had rattled the cross bar to tap home sending jubilation through the Tongan side. American Samoa pressed for a late equaliser but couldn't find the back of the will now face a winner takes all match against Solomon Islands on Friday for a place in the semi-finals.
