PUHI — Island School runners finished first in both the boys and girls races Friday when Run Club Kaua‘i hosted the middle-school cross-country championships at the Island School campus, utilizing the same course used for the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cross-country meet.
Hunter Kerry, an eighth-grade student at Island School, topped the field of runners by stopping the clock at 10 minutes, 23 seconds over the 1.5-mile course (one lap compared to the two laps done by the high school runners). Kerry was the first of four Island School runners filling the top five positions, the exception being Chase Batalucco of Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i Public Charter School nailing the third spot on a 12:24 run.
Kerry’s finish also led the Voyagers to the top placement in team finishes that saw Alaka‘i O Kaua‘i taking second place over ‘Olelo Christian Academy and Hawai‘i Tech Academy. Team finishes were based on the top three runners from each school.
Kallie Akau, an Island School sixth-grade student, topped the girls races with a 12:13 run over the 1.5-mile course.
She was challenged by Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School sixth-grader Kate Edwards, who stopped the clock at 12:59 before Island School nailed the third and fourth finishes in the girls race.
Akau’s run led the middle-school Voyagers to a top team finish, followed by the Hawai‘i Tech Academy in second place.
“We weren’t going to do it, and then we were going to do it,” said Keith Burgess, the Kaua‘i High School athletic trainer and the father of top KIF female finisher Emma Burgess. “We had the announcement posted on the Run Club Kaua‘i sites, and after we closed registration, the phones went crazy with people wanting to participate. We reopened the registration site and ended up with more than 40 participating runners.”
Run Club Kaua‘i developed during the COVID-19 pandemic when Emma Burgess needed to maintain practice for when the running season would resume following the outbreak.
“This middle-school cross-country championship was a huge success with public, private, charter schools, and even some homeschoolers joining,” said Run Club Kaua‘i. “We would like to thank everyone for being a part of this fun, healthy competition and representing their schools. We are proud of all of them for coming out to race and doing their best. We would like to thank Island School for hosting the championship race course, and the volunteers from the Kaua‘i High School HOSA Club, the Kaua‘i High School students, coaches, parents, and other schools.”
Girls 1.5-mile results:
Kallie Akau (IS) 12 minutes, 13 seconds; Kate Edwards (CKMS) 12:59, Avai Keahiolalo (IS) 13:08,
Kolohaiaheahe Kuhaulua (IS) 13:36, Faria Courtney (Kawaikini) 13:56, Juliette Rosales O’Shaughnessy (CKMS) 14:50, Haniah Ventura (HI Tech) 15:12, Luna Dana (IS) 15:20, Orah Mcgee (Alaka‘i) 15:23, Keifer Mcternan (IS) 15:53, Shay Clark (HI Tech), Moana Liddell (IS) 17:47, Faith Kawakami (HI Tech) 18:47, Ella Taber (HI Tech) 20:11, Mary Patterson (Olelo) 22:00, Makena Espina-Ignacio (Olelo) 22:57.
Boys 1.5-mile results:
Hunter Kerry (IS) 10:23, Khyler Greenleaf (IS) 10:54, Chase Batalucco (Alaka‘i) 12.24, Isaac Evslin (IS) 12.34, Laiku Carvalho (IS) 12:36, Wyatt Ballard (Olelo) 12:46, Sawyer Kimball (Alaka‘i) 13:00, Kirin Williams (WCMS) 13:03, Kia Kaha Lopez (other) 13:50, AJ Gregorius (Alaka‘i) 14:09, Colton Manibog (IS) 14:14, Maximus Israelson (Alaka‘i) 14:20, Benjamin Petersmann (IS) 14:44, Jayden Putman (IS) 15:51, Levi Costa (HI Tech) 16:17, Ryker Espiritu (Olelo) 16:21, Koa Shay (Alaka‘i) 17:00, Javis Moises (WCMS) 17:38, Shiloh Costa (HI Tech) 19:55, Lanakila Grosse (Olelo) 20:10, Jyrus Kali-Palau (HI Tech) 22:33, Charles Kealoha (Olelo) 22:34, Aiden Godinez (IS) 22:55.
