WAIMEA — The Westside heat didn’t bother Menehune runners who swept the latest Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cross country meet hosted by Waimea Saturday. Caralyn Broyles and Natasha Abadila led the girls to a first-place, 29-point showing over Kapa‘a, who finished
WAIMEA — The Westside heat didn’t bother Menehune runners who swept the latest Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cross country meet hosted by Waimea Saturday.
Caralyn Broyles and Natasha Abadila led the girls to a first-place, 29-point showing over Kapa‘a, who finished with 38 team points.
Kaua‘i filled in third place with 56 team points.
Kaimana Girod, running only his second KIF cross country race, led the Menehune men who topped the four-team field with 25 team points followed by Kaua‘i High School who finished with 45 team points.
Kapa‘a boys filled in third with 66 team points and the Island School contingent finished fourth with 109 team points.
“I didn’t even have time to practice the last race,” Girod said after finishing a scant 10 seconds behind Kula Intermediate and High’s Pierce Murphy, who dominated the 3-mile course in the boys race.
Girod kept a tight rein on the freshman runner from Kula for two of the three miles before Murphy put the pedal to the metal and crossed with a 17:44 followed by Girod at 17:54.
That time is Murphy’s best showing in a KIF cross country race to date and sets the stage for Saturday’s championship race.
“I still have a week to practice and work,” Girod said.
Meanwhile, Kaua‘i coaches Erin Dunn and Fred Sasan are looking ahead to Saturday’s showdown when the winner of that race will determine the KIF title in the boys’ arena.
“Right now we’re tied with Waimea, and whoever takes the Saturday race will be the champion,” Dunn said.
Similarly, Kapa‘a got a good race from Kirsten McCracken who emerged from the top 10 Warrior runners to lead the ladies in green Saturday.
Following Broyles (21:41.80) and Abadila (22:24), McCracken crossed the line third overall at 23:20.90.
“Kirsten had a really good race today,” said Erin Millard, one of the Kapa‘a coaches. “In fact, this whole week, she’s been focused. She’s had good practices, coming early and working hard, and it really showed today.”
Following McCracken across the line, Alia Weiss (24:01) was 6th overall, pursued by Stephanie Foster (24:37.90) in the 7th position. Whitney Rowe (25:36.80-11th) and Dominique Bartolo (27:00.70-16th) counted in the Warrior ladies’ team scoring.
Following Broyles and Abadila, Jayme Jacinto (24:59.10-8th), Charleen Miguel (25:09-9th) and Elisa Broyles (25:59.10-12th) figured in the Menehune ladies’ team scoring.
Elizabeth Schiller stepped up the pace for Kaua‘i, finishing fourth overall with a 23:41.20 race, but in the absence of Elizabeth LaMadrid, the Raider girls slipped into third place. Following Schiller, Elisabeth Young (25:13.50-13th), Kailyn Kealoha (26:05.20-13th), Lea Tumaneng (26:55.80-15th) and Briana Bailey (27:40.20-20th) accounted for the team scoring.
Kula Intermediate and High’s Gillian Pickett, normally a strong finisher, dropped back in the Westside heat, finishing fifth overall on a 24:00.40 race followed by Amber Loughead crossing the line at 26:08.40, 14th overall.
Following Girod, Waimea scoring included Jared Coleman-Stark (19:08.10-5th), Christian Tangalin (19:12.10-6th), Darrel Nonaka (19:32.50-8th) and Benji Baclig (19:33.70-9th).
“Darren broke 19,” Dunn said excitedly after the race.
Darren Lapitan topped the Raider men, finishing third overall on an 18:59 race.
“It was all him,” Lapitan said, pointing to coach Richard Matsumoto.
“He told me to get out of my comfort zone. He’s been saying that a lot, but in the other races, he just says ‘Faster,’ when I pass. Today, he was yelling ‘Faster!’ so I knew he meant it.”
Lapitan’s time catapulted him to a third finish, ahead of Kapa‘a’s Adam Kerlin who filled in the fourth overall slot at 19:05.70, Lapitan overtaking the Warrior runner between the second and third mile of the race.
Following Lapitan, Daniel DeGracia (19:20.50-7th), Chevas Takasaki (19:55.40-12th), DJ Herr (10:03.20-14th), Jason Chun (20:27.50-19th) and Jonathon Anacleto (20:53.90-20th) figured in the math.
Following Kerlin for the Warriors, Cole Pemberton (19:57.00-13th), Hunter Bilbo (20:20.00-17th), Kekoa Prem (22:44.70-28th) and Kila Youn (23:52.70-34th) were in the scoring formula.
Island School top finishers included Ryan Wong (22:59), Sam Dunham (24:50.60), Kyle Lee (25:46), Brennan Wortmann (26:12.10) and Philip Davidson (26:14.50).
Following Murphy, Kula Intermediate and High saw Bryson Phillips cross 10th overall at 19:41.60.
Saturday’s race is the KIF championship race hosted by Island School starting at 4 p.m. at the Puhi campus.
