What is it with the Tagovailoas and arms?
We all know about Tua and Taulia, but now here comes Zada into the mix.
Zada Tagovailoa, a junior thrower for the Damien track and field team, won the girls discus event at the ILH track and field championships on Saturday at Kamehameha.
She is a first cousin of Alabama football players Tua Tagovailoa (second in the Heisman Trophy race last year) and his younger brother Taulia. Zada’s father, Pisa Tagovailoa, is the brother of Galu, who is Tua and Taulia’s dad.
“I haven’t been to an Alabama game yet, but we’re going up this year to see the Notre Dame game (another cousin, Myron Tagovailoa, plays for the Fighting Irish),” said Zada, who won the discus with a throw of 125 feet, 10.5 inches.
“They’re great,” she added about her cousins. “They have the full potential, the drive, the fire.”
Asked if she ever wanted to play football, Zada said no.
“This (track and field) is what I want for college,” she said. “Not football. My dad would never let me (play football). This is my ticket to college right here. Shot put and discus.”
There is another Tagovailoa arm out there. Tua and Taulia’s sister Taysia-Lynn Tagovailoa is a freshman shot putter and discus thrower for Campbell.
“The arms, it runs in the family,” Zada said.
Zada’s mark on Saturday improved on her 121-6 that had been Hawaii’s best for 2019. Punahou’s Aleah Liilii finished second with a mark of 120-06.
Tagovailoa almost missed the finals for poor early throws.
“I was at 85, and I was like, ‘I don’t throw that,’ ” she said. “But I came out in the finals and threw my 125. I’m aiming for 130 for states.”
Tagovailoa also placed fifth in the shot put behind winner Siana Uluave of Punahou.
Great family!