By a slim margin, Punahou’s girls track dynasty lives on.

The Buffanblu crossed the finish line of the 4×400 relay well ahead of the field Saturday at Mililani, then sweated out Seabury Hall’s finish behind them. The Spartans needed to finish third or better to claim the Maui Interscholastic League’s first girls state track and field title.

Seabury anchor Alyssa Bettendorf started her leg from the back of the pack and made up serious ground — but not quite enough. The Spartans finished fourth, meaning Punahou won 69-68. It was still an amazing feat considering they had only five athletes competing against a legion for the Buffanblu.

Punahou won for the fifth straight year and ninth time in the last decade. But its reign looked in serious doubt as it trailed by five points entering the 4×400.

"We were trailing all afternoon and things were not necessarily going our way," coach Duncan Macdonald said. "We knew we had a chance the whole time. It was a matter of counting points. We needed help from other people really to win the meet."

It was true — particularly from Christian Academy’s Raion Black in the 100- and 200-meter dashes — but it wouldn’t have mattered if the Buffanblu hadn’t taken care of business at the end.

"I kept on seeing a shadow, but I think it was my own shadow. I wasn’t sure," said ecstatic 4×400 anchor Mackenzie Feldman. "Last race of the year, just got to bring it home."

Seabury’s lone event winner was Dakota Grossman in the 3,000 — she three-peated that event and can go for four next year as a senior — but the Spartans were competitive throughout.

"We tried our best," Seabury coach Bobby Grossman said. "We’re a small little school, and we did what we could today. And I’m proud of them all.

"We’ll be happy in a little while," he added. "Normally, second for this school … but we were going for the championship. It was close."

Punahou took second, third and fourth behind Grossman in the 3,000 to gain ground in the standings and set up the thrilling finale.

"It was very difficult. Coming from Maui, we’re not used to having to make up all that space," the Seabury anchor Bettendorf said. "At the end, I saw an opportunity and I just went for it."

Two state meet records fell on a day of extremely tight competition.

Baldwin’s Amber Kozaki posted 13 feet in the pole vault on Friday, breaking old teammate Kristine Felix’s mark of 12 feet, 6 inches.

"We have a love-hate relationship," a grinning Kozaki said. "Now it’s like, she’s happy for me. She didn’t want me to lose to Punahou."

Hawaii Prep senior Zoe Sims broke Victoria Chang’s 1999 record (4:38.83) in the 1,500-meter run at 4:36.22. Sims also claimed the 800 as a solid high school sendoff.

"There’s always another PR. You can always run faster," Sims said. "You never just win the championship, and that’s it, like in another sport. This isn’t the end."

Christian Academy’s only female competitor, Black, three-peated in the 100 (12.58 seconds) and won the 200 (25.48) for the second straight year.

"This is it. It’s bittersweet," the University of Hawaii-bound Black said. "Being here in Hawaii, there’s a lot of people you get to meet. Everybody’s really nice. Leaving high school track, I’m going to miss the people most."

The Spartans aren’t done. This year wasn’t their time, but 2014 sure could be.

"Seabury Hall doesn’t graduate anybody. We graduate six. It’s going to be a big challenge next year, for sure," Macdonald said.