The Martin triplets from Waimea High School — Rachel, Scott and Nathan headlined the last KIF cross country meet held in Waimea, but when the dust settled, the Island School Navigator boys emerged as winners of the boys three-mile event,
The Martin triplets from Waimea High School — Rachel, Scott and Nathan headlined the last KIF cross country meet held in Waimea, but when the dust settled, the Island School Navigator boys emerged as winners of the boys three-mile event, while the Red Raider girls soared to the top of their two-mile race.
“We don’t have the 4, 5 and 6,” Waimea coach Basilio “Bunga” Fuertes said after Scott and Nathan Martin finished first and second overall, but the Menehune ended up in third place, four points shy of Kaua‘i High School’s second place standing.
Island School’s Mario Rosa led the charge for the Navigators with a third place finish, completing the course in 17:59, and it was the showing of Chris Marsh (6th), William Ajates (7th) and Chris Hoffman (8th) across the line that carried the Navigators to a 35-44 win over the Red Raiders.
Waimea boys followed at 48 points, Kula High School 81 points and Kapa‘a High School finishing at 104 points.
Chad Naganuma, fourth overall, led the Red Raiders, finishing the course at 18:22 followed by Ross Brandeburg crossing fifth. Aaron Fujimoto increased his pace from the first meet’s 15th finish to a 9th overall at 19:57 to lead Kaua‘i.
Following the Martin brothers, Waimea’s next finisher crossed 10th overall as Collin Dana stopped the clock at 20:06, and Peterson Dela Cruz crossing 17th overall.
Kula’s first finisher was Gilbert Zack who came in 22nd overall while Kapa‘a’s Waylan Sadang headed the Warriors with a 13th place finish.
Shauna Tachibana of Kaua‘i topped Waimea’s Rachel Martin in the girls’ race, but was disqualified on a cone violation giving Rachel top overall finish in that race.
Despite the DQ, the Red Raiders strong finish by Cassie Morishige (3rd), Corey Mann (7th), Jean Juliano (8th), Amanda Savage (9th) and Chelsea Smith-Wisnard pushed Kaua‘i to the top with 37 points followed by Waimea’s 47 points. Kapa‘a finished at 59 points followed by Island School at 123 points and Kula with 4 points, Alexandra Pond crossing fourth overall at 13:49.
Kapa’a’s Kristy Nagahisa continued to put pressure on the leaders, finishing behind Martin at 13:44 with Morishige crossing four seconds later with Pond breathing down the Red Raider’s back at 13:49.
The next KIF cross country quad meet will be held Saturday, Oct. 18, hosted by Island School at the Puhi campus with the first race going off at 3 p.m.
