PUHI — The Island School boys cross country team finished the Kauai Interscholastic Federation undefeated after winning the KIF championship meet Saturday under cool, misty conditions at the Island School campus. The Voyagers — led by Henry Scherer, who finished
PUHI — The Island School boys cross country team finished the Kauai Interscholastic Federation undefeated after winning the KIF championship meet Saturday under cool, misty conditions at the Island School campus.
The Voyagers — led by Henry Scherer, who finished the three-mile course in 18 minutes, 55.48 seconds — collected 31 points, holding off the Kauai boys who crossed the line with 38 points.
“We finish the season undefeated,” said Eric Wortmann, Island School coach. “The boys are fast, and they just pace off Henry.”
The Kapaa boys finished third with 67 points, and the Menehune round out the pack with 82 points. These positions are despite the strong finishes by its leaders, Kapaa seeing Garret Smith break the 18-minute mark on a 17:30.98 run, and Waimea’s Braden Lumabao qualifying for the state meet with his ninth overall finish (19:30.78).
“The top 14 finishers qualify for the state meet, which takes place Saturday here,” said Kauai coach Fred Sasan. “We might not have finished first, but we had six boys qualify for the state, including Kane Casillas and Jacob Herr returning. We can compete as a team.”
In the girls’ race, Island School’s Ella Beck set the pace, moving out early to lead the pack, finishing the course on a 21:59.72 run.
The team race was between the Kauai and Kapaa girls, Raider Mia Takekuma chasing Beck on a 22:03.29 run, followed by Kapaa’s Victoria “Tori” Hennessy (22:08.58) and Juliana Tampus (22:30.58) in third and fourth places, respectively.
That set the stage for Kapaa claiming the title with 42 points, just ahead of Kauai’s 46 points.
“You’re killing me,” Sasan said. “After holding 12th through most of the race, Stacie Schnackenberg gets iced out at the line.”
The drama played out when Schnackenberg’s inhaler popped out of her hands on the first tree line leg. Her father retrieved the inhaler and waited to pass it on to the runner. She continued to hold the 12th spot until the final sprint to the line, where she was overtaken by Kapaa’s Hannah Collins-Doijode for the final state spot.
Island School girls finished third at 64 points, followed by Waimea getting fourth with 74 points.
“We were fortunate with Ella,” Wortmann said. “When she was going to Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, she worked out, and as a freshman. She is ready to compete. Her plan was to win at the gun and stay ahead. She did that, but Mia is a fine runner. In fact, Mia, Tori and Ella all have a shot at state. This is one of the reasons I like this league. The coaches all get along and impart their knowledge to the runners.”
For Casillas, the Saturday race was his birthday present after celebrating his special day on Thursday.
“I’m not hurting,” the Kauai High School runner said. “This is my birthday present. My plan was to stick with a pack and pick off at the end.”
Casillas was one of two runners who missed the majority of the season due to injuries. He was welcomed back to the field by Sasan following the championship race.
“I had plantar fasciitis, which simply means I tore the ligaments in my arch,” Casillas said. “It affected both feet, and I couldn’t run. I got this from running in worn-out shoes that had no support — bad shoes. I had a plan to run in the meet two weeks ago to qualify for the championship (and state) meet.”
His dad, Dante Casillas, said Kane finished 29th overall in that first meet two weeks ago.
“He was OK for the first half,” Dante Casillas said. “But on the second half, you could see him wincing with every step as he came up the tree line. The two weeks off really helped him, and I’m so happy he finished the race. Look at him, he’s not hurting.”
The Honolulu Marathon Hawaii High School Athletic Association cross country championships take place Saturday at the Island School campus. The first race is scheduled for 8 a.m.
Results (state qualifiers)
Boys:
Garret Smith (Kap 17:30.98), Dodger Middlebrook (Kau 18:12.59), Henry Scherer (IS 18:55.48), Matthew Vickers (IS 19:09.03), Kane Casillas (Kau 19:14.70), Joshua Graves (IS 19:23.26), Ian Penner (IS 19:24.33), Dutch Fairbanks (Kau 19:30.10), Braden Lumabao (Wai 19:30.78), Jaheim Scoburgh (Kau 19:34.52), Ben Griep (IS 19:36.03), Keon Orlando (Kap 19:36.70), Jacob Herr (Kau 19:37.88), Jeremy Herr (Kau 19:437.76).
Girls
Ella Beck (IS 21:59.72), Mia Takekuma (Kau 22:03.29), Victoria Hennessy (Kap 22:08.58), Juliana Tampus (Kap 22:30.58), Olivia Lutkevich (IS 22:42.43), Kristin Chun (Kau 22:59.61), Nahe Edwards (IS 23:17.62), Kahlil Shockley (Kap 23:26.14), Lacey Bagain (Wai 23:56.21), Samantha Bostick (Wai 23:56.77), Starlyn Soares (Kau 24:33.70), Hannah Collins-Doijode (Kap 24:34.79).
