Imagine being a 15-year old athlete spending nine days sightseeing and traveling around Brisbane and the Gold Coast of Australia, eating some of the best foods ever tasted, then mingling and racing against the best high school cross country runners
Imagine being a 15-year old athlete spending nine days sightseeing and traveling around Brisbane and the Gold Coast of Australia, eating some of the best foods ever tasted, then mingling and racing against the best high school cross country runners from around the world.
And by the way, it’s all without the boundaries of parental guidance.
For Cody Ranfranz, it was a dream come true.
“I thought that it would be an adventure. I had never been to Australia before,” Ranfranz said. “But I knew, given this opportunity, that it would be something good for me to experience.”
A year ago, Ranfranz turned heads when he became the youngest victor in all 26 years of Peaman Biathlon history. Since then, he continued to tear it up on Alii Drive adding another six Peaman Biathlon victories to his resume, along with numerous first place finishes at local running events.
Last fall, as a sophmore at Konawaena High School, Ranfranz decided to run on the cross country team and finished off a rookie season with an official letter from his school counselor. Included in this letter was a certificate of recognition awarding Ranfranz all-state honors on the 2015 Hawaii State Cross Country squad and a special invite to be a part of the Pacific Conference Cross Country team for Down Under Sports.
“Just to get this opportunity and recognition, it was a big shock,” Ranfranz said. “I never thought I’d be the one invited as there were going to be a lot of faster people than me.”
According to the Down Under Sports Tournaments website, various sporting events have been offered over the last 27 years to provide a forum for athletes from other countries to compete head to head in the sport they love. Tournaments have included competition in football, cheerleading, basketball, volleyball, golf, cross-country, track and field, free style wrestling and swimming.
The goal of Down Under Sports is to provide athletes who excel in their sport the opportunity to experience the culture, beauty and grandeur of the Land Down Under all within the framework of spirited and intense competition in many different sports.
This amazing opportunity for Ranfranz turned into reality on June 30 when he left his parents and little K-town for an adventure of a lifetime in the Australia.
“I was nervous,” said Ranfranz’s mother Gail. “This was the first time Cody would be traveling on his own. But I knew that I had to let go at some point and this was the perfect opportunity. It was a once in a lifetime experience and we were proud that he was going to do it on his own.”
Ranfranz — the only runner to represent Hawaii — toed the line with 3,400 other athletes from all 50 states and nine countries at the Gold Coast 5.7K Challenge, held on July 4.
Having never experienced fierce international competition before, Ranfranz said he ran his heart out and placed 30th overall with a time of 20 minutes and 23 seconds.
“I really wasn’t looking for a PR (personal record) or anything,” he said. “I was just looking to do good and place well. And I’m happy that I did just that.”
Three days later, Ranfranz toed the line again, but this time it was against tough US competition. The Down Under All-American 5K Race pitted the best high school cross-country runners from all 50 states against one another, and once again, Ranfranz did not disappoint.
The teen speedster placed an impressive sixth overall with a time of 18:19.
With summer break coming to an end on July 28, Ranfranz — who holds a 3.2 grade point average — said that he is looking forward to his junior year at Konawaena High School and has already begun practice sessions for the upcoming cross country season.
As for his trip Down Under, embracing a new culture, learning about the native Aborigines, swimming along the Great Barrier Reef and experiencing life lessons will no doubt, remain permanently etched into his memories forever.
“It truly exceeded my expectations. It was everything I imagined it to be and so much more. Everyone was friendly – the locals, the athletes – it was very similar to Hawaii. The whole experience was great and the running was just the icing on the cake. This will stay with me for years and years and I will never forget this trip.”
