PUHI, Kaua'i — State titles are won with fast starts. They are also won with final pushes.

Junior Margarito Martinez continued Leilehua's streak of state champions and Kamehameha won the boys team title at yesterday's Honolulu Marathon/HHSAA Cross Country Championships at Island School.

Kamehameha made a strong push late in the race to win with a meet-low 56 points. Through the first mile of the 3-mile race, 'Iolani's top runners were ahead of Kamehameha's top runners. Each team's top five finishers count towards the team's point total, and the Warriors moved up in the latter half of the race.

"We knew that if you get out fast, you're not going to win it in the first lap," said Kamehameha's Jordan Kahawai, who finished 12th in 17 minutes, 12.65 seconds. "We talked with our coaches about it and they said start picking people off on your second lap."

Martinez won with a different approach. He took the lead early and had the entire field chasing him — which was what he wanted — and won in 15:50.05.

Martinez follows Leilehua alum Bryce Jenkins, who won the last three state titles and helped the Mules win the last two boys team titles.

"My strategy was to go out there, set my pace and have them run my race," said Martinez. "My first two miles were good. I slowed down my last mile."

Martinez was followed by Pierce Murphy of host Island School during the entire race. Martinez's lead gradually widened, though he felt Murphy was close. Murphy, the crowd favorite who received cheers and encouragement along the flat, two-loop grassy course, tried to make a move late in the race.

"I felt good after the first mile," said Murphy, who ran 16:18.35. "Right after the second mile, I tried to pick it up and catch up to Margarito, but it was too hot and hard."

Kamehameha's Jordan Thibodeau finished third in 16:44.95 and was one of three Warriors to place in the top 20. Kahawai, a boarding student from Puhi, was 12th and Isaiah Sato was 13th in 17:13.95.

Also running for Kamehameha were Alex Ortega (22nd, 17:23.60), Zack Sainz (26th, 17:35.80), Daniel Kanekoa (27th, 17:40.05) and Caleb Achuela (51st, 18:10.05). Kamehameha and Punahou have both won a state-best 11 team titles.

"I had complete confidence in the team," Thibodeau said. "I knew they were going to do their best like they did the whole season."

Punahou was second with 85 points, followed by 'Iolani (94), Maui (107) and Leilehua (124).

"('Iolani) got out really well," Kamehameha coach Steve Jenness said. "Probably at the mile mark, they were probably winning. I felt once it thinned out — I felt this course was so difficult to pass on — but once it thinned out a little bit, our guys moved up on the second lap really well."

Troy Esaki of 'Iolani finished fourth (16:47.95), followed by Nikolai Scharer (16:48.10) of Punahou, Eric Pak (16:49.80) of Castle, Colin Honeker of 'Aiea (16:53.75), Rocky Balala of Maui (16:55.25), Justin Higa of 'Iolani (17:06.65), and Punahou's Ian Terayama (17:07.40).

NOTE: The Honolulu Marathon announced it will sponsor Martinez and girls champion Ellie Brady of Punahou to the Foot Locker West Regional in Walnut, Calif., on Dec. 5.