KEALIA — The Kauai High cross country teams resorted to tiebreakers to settle their final placements Saturday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation cross country race hosted by Kapaa High at the course laid out at Kauai Ranch in Kealia.
Mia Matsunaga, crossing the line 13th overall on a run that stopped the clock at 26 minutes, 00.40 seconds, pushed the Kauai girls team to a first finish over Kapaa High girls, who forced the tie breaker when both teams ended the competition deadlocked at 40 points apiece. The time differences between the two teams also demonstrated the tight competition as Kauai girls (24:37.45 average) finished with a 20-second edge over the Warriors (24:57.77 average).
Tiana Kaui, crossing the line in 17th place overall on a 26:59.74 run, was the tiebreaker for the Warrior girls. Juliana Tampus of Kapaa was first overall in 22:10.52.
She was followed by Ella Beck of Island School (22:29.91), and Kauai’s Molly Middlebrook (22:41.72) and Mia Takekuma (22:42.93).
Victoria Hennessy of Kapaa ran for the first time this year, finishing eighth overall (22:19.49).
The Island School Voyagers girls team filled in the No. 3 spot at 67 points, and Waimea High School girls rounding out the leaderboard in fourth place at 89 points, its Samantha Bostick leading the effort with a sixth overall finish in the 52-runner pack.
Strong group running by the Island School men gave them the lead spot in the boys’ race, where the Voyagers pushed their five scoring runners in the third through seventh positions for 25 team points. Matthew Vickers led the Voyagers’ surge on a 19:02.89 run in third overall, and the grouping was closed by Henry Scherer crossing the line seventh overall on a 20:07.67.
The boys’ 101-runner field was topped by Kapaa’s Garret Smith, who set the pace on a 17:49.39 run, chased by Kauai’s Kane Casillas, who stopped the clocks at 18:47.12 after recovering from an injury during last week’s race where he withdrew following the injury.
Kauai’s boys also turned to the tie-breaking No. 6 runner to break the 55-55 deadlock for second place when Damon Johnson stopped the clocks at 22:15.01 for 21st scoring points over Kapaa’s Dominic Agrade, who crossed at 22:43.57 for the 23rd scoring point.
Waimea boys rounded out the leaderboard in fourth place with 84 points.
Island School will host the next KIF cross country meet Saturday at its Puhi campus, with the first race starting at 7:30 a.m.
Results
Top 20 Girls: Juliana Tampus (KAP 22:10.52), Ella Beck (IS 22:29.91), Molly Middlebrook (KAU 22:41.72), Mia Takekuma (KAU 22:42.93), DeSouza Jaden (IS 23:14.29), Samantha Bostick (WAI 25:14.87), Jessica Drent (KAP 25:18.90), Victoria Hennessy (KAP 25:19.49), Kinohi Naihe (KAP 25:20.48), Malia Splittstoesser (KAU 25:43.88), Nicole Matsushige (KAU 25:59.01), Aurora Ramseth (KAU 25:59.69), Mia Matsunaga (KAU 26:00.40), Olivia Lutkevich (IS 26:12.91), Tawehi Dubocage (KAP 26:39.43), Noe Kaya (KAU 26:51.21), Tiana Kaui (KAP 26:59.74), Coral Haeger (KAP 27:12.18), Janessa Freitas (WAI 27:14.60), Starlyn Soares (KAU 27:36.99).
Top 25 Boys: Garret Smith (KAP 17:49.39), Kane Casillas (KAU 18:47.12), Matthew Vickers (IS 19:02.89), Joshua Graves (IS 19:19.42), James Pratt (IS 19:41.73), Elijah Ibbs (IS 19:41.93), Henry Scherer (IS 20:07.67), Jeremy Herr (KAU 20:17.17), Alakai Gonsalves (KAP 20:41.38), Levi Snowden (WAI 20:46.75), Sage Ioanna (KAP 20:55.04), Jaheim Schoburgh (KAU 20:55.78), Zach Costales (WAI 20:59.71), Benjamin Hanoh Kuhaulua (KAP 21:00.24), Ben Griep (IS 21:18.68), Jacob Borrero (KAU 21:22.01), Kevin Cabreira (Kauai Christian Academy 21:41.26), Samuel Isaraelsen (KAU 21:42.27), Ky Niccole (WAI 21:43.17), Keahi Mattos (WAI 21:56.02), Brody Smith (KAP 21:56.34), Damon Johnson (KAU 22:15.01), Kai Pappas (KAU 22:35.84), Dominic Agrade (KAP 22:43.57), Ben Brady (KAU 22:44.27).
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
