WAIMEA — Excitement peppered both the boys and girls races at the opening of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cross country season Saturday. Pierce Murphy returned to the course to set a new standard for the three-mile course, finishing the boys
WAIMEA — Excitement peppered both the boys and girls races at the opening of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cross country season Saturday.
Pierce Murphy returned to the course to set a new standard for the three-mile course, finishing the boys race at a blistering 15:55.50, more than two-and-a-half minutes faster than the next finisher, Daniel Degracia who stopped the clocks at 18:27.40.
On the girls’ side, Sarah Faraola of Kapa‘a eked out a lead between the first and second mile over Waimea’s Natasha Abadilla, an easy winner at last week’s Waimea Invitational pre-season run.
Heading to the sprint finish leg, Faraola was clearly in the lead, but making the final turn leading to the downhill sprint finish lane, the Kapa‘a runner missed a cone, getting called back to retrace her steps.
Abadilla made her move, sweeping past Faraola on the retracing.
But race officials disqualified Abadilla on grounds of obstruction after reviewing the race video, giving the race to Faraola on a 22.29.70 run.
The Kapa‘a boys team, getting Brycen Phillips across the line third overall (18:49.50), finished first, a mere five points ahead of Kaua‘i, 46 to 51 points. Waimea boys followed at 59 points with Island School rounding out the field at 63 points.
Kaua‘i girls, taking the pre-season run last week, held off a strong Kapa‘a effort to take first by just four points, 34 to Kapa‘a’s 38 points. Waimea rounded out the field at 49 points.
“We had a couple of our boys not being able to race, today,” said Kaua‘i coach Erin Dunn. “They’re strong finishers, so I’m not worried because they’ll be back, Saturday.”
Fred Sasan, a Kaua‘i coach, said the race was real close, the Raider boys’ having the lead through the third runner when Kapa‘a’s Joshua Cram (20:08.50), seventh overall, crossed ahead of Kaua‘i’s Mason Vegas (20:11.20), eighth overall.
Following Degracia, Kaua‘i’s lead runners included Joshua Herr (19:01,50), fourth overall, Vegas, and Kyle Napoleon (20:48.90).
Following Phillips, Kapa‘a’s leaders included Bradley Heiser (20:06.80), sixth overall, Cram, and Makana Weiss (20:41.30), 11th overall.
Jeremy Randolph-Flag, finishing 9th overall, followed Pierce for Island School on a 20:22.10 run.
Faraola’s first overall finish gave Kapa‘a girls the lead that stood until Kaua‘i’s fourth runner, Jessica Gauna (24:09.50), eighth overall, crossed ahead of two Waimea runners, Elisa Broyles (24:32.30) and Jade Cano (24:39.60).
Alyssa Vegas (24:51.50) dogging the Waimea girls throughout the race, iced the Kaua‘i win, 11th overall, getting encouragement from coach Sasan to try and catch the Menehune pair.
Kaua‘i’s first finisher was Christina Pearson (22:40.90), second overall, followed by Cinzia Bruno (23:57.70), sixth overall, and Kendall Andersland (23:58.60), seventh overall.
Following Faraola, Tiara Welborn (22:54.10), third overall, Alia Weiss (23:31.50), fifth overall, and Kona-Kai Wilson (25:21.10), 13th overall, were the Kapa‘a leaders.
Jayme Jacinto (23:09.90), fourth overall, was the first Waimea finisher followed by Broyles, Cano, and Jessica Tangalin (25:17.60), 12th overall.
This week’s KIF cross country meet moves to Kapa‘a High School with the first race starting at 9 a.m.
The Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association’s 2009 state cross country races will be held on Kaua‘i following the KIF season.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
