PUUANAHULU – With the BIIF Championships only two weeks away, the focus of cross country teams across the Big Island is starting to turn toward Nov. 20, when the best of the BIIF will be crowned.
After Saturday’s performance at Makani Golf Club, the expectations couldn’t be any higher for Kealakehe. On the boys’ side, four Waverider runners placed in the top six at Saturday’s event, led by Levi Childers’ second-place finish of 18:33.08.
“We’re all looking two weeks out to the BIIF Championships and the State Championships; we have a good shot at both,” said Kealakehe’s head coach Patrick Bradley. “That’s our goal; we set that goal last summer. The kids have been training and are dedicated.”
Behind Childers were Aiden Ankrum (18:55.34) in third, Cameron Cornforth (18:56.16) in fourth and Archer Ankrum (19:30.17) in sixth. Spencer Vanderpool (20:23.09) rounded out Kealakehe’s five, coming in 12th overall. When it was all said and done, the Waveriders’ team total of 26 points put them in first place, ahead of Waiakea’s 45 and Hawaii Prep’s 56.
“They did fantastic,” Bradley added. “We’re trying to train through these meets right now.”
Led by Kederang Ueda – who won his third straight race in a time of 17:50.48 – the Warriors of Waiakea are likely to be Kealakehe’s toughest competition at the BIIF Championships. Waiakea saw runners Kiyoshi Todd (19:01.97) place fifth and Mason Selley (20:15.15) place 11th on Saturday.
HPA is also likely to challenge for the title. Ka Makani had three top-10 finishers at Makani Golf Club: Parker Smith (19:35.86) in seventh, Zane Vannatta (19:47.21) in eighth and Kekai Haines (19:58.09) in 10th.
On the girls’ side, Kealakehe’s Cozette Wood was able to notch her fourth consecutive win. While her final time of 21:11.27 wasn’t as fast as last week’s blazing sub-20-minute finish, the Waverider junior was happy with her winning performance on a tougher, hotter course at Makani Golf Club.
“This is my home course; I’ve been here before,” said Wood.
She finished more than 22 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Caroline Betlach (21:33.97) of HPA. Rounding out the girls’ top five were Hilo’s Kekaihulali Halpern (21:34.37) in third, followed by a pair of Waiakea runners: Kiralynn Kuramoto (22:16.67) in fourth and Shanay Ha’a (22:22.71) in fifth.
HPA took first place as a team with 39 points, followed by Waiakea with 48 and Hilo with 80.
While her performances this season have made Wood the likely favorite on Nov. 20, she’s more concerned with making improvements than she is about the final result.
“I like getting first, but I also want to improve my time,” said Wood. “That’s important for me.”
Next Saturday’s meet at Kamehameha will be the final race before Nov. 20’s BIIF Championship.
5Ks Saturday at Makani Golf Club
Girls
1 Wood, Cozette Kealakehe 21:11.27
2 Betlach, Caroline Hawaii Prep 21:33.97
3 Halpern, Kekaihulali Hilo 21:34.37
4 Kuramoto, Kiralynn Waiakea 22:16.67
5 Ha’A, Shanay Waiakea 22:22.71
6 HO, Lia Waiakea 23:06.55
7 Radey-Morgan, Wynter Hawaii Prep 23:07.59
8 Gervias, Xochi Hilo 23:34.33
9 Perry, Jordan Hawaii Prep 23:58.37
10 Wawner, Ali Hawaii Prep 24:07.40
11 Sejati, Johna Hawaii Prep 24:13.10
12 Wilson, Sophia KS Hawaii 24:18.63
13 Lockwood, Anita Hawaii Prep 24:21.31
14 Wyatt, Phoebe Hawaii Prep 24:34.67
15 Derego, Logynn Honokaa 24:59.27
16 Tominaga, Teryn Waiakea 25:20.36
17 Garana, Shaian Konawaena 25:33.70
18 Halpern, Kekaimalino Hilo 25:41.82
19 Puckett, Mahea Hawaii Prep 25:55.68
20 Godbole, Taarini Waiakea 26:07.77
21 Marquez, Sydnie Kohala 26:13.67
22 Botelho, Peyton KS Hawaii 26:14.33
23 Keen, Jada Kealakehe 26:19.01
24 Basave, Dani Hawaii Prep 26:28.47
25 Scanlan, Kendall Hawaii Prep 26:31.49
26 Cootey, Jane-Grace KS Hawaii 26:34.33
27 Quintana, Sanoe KS Hawaii 26:43.36
28 Soller, Kayla Lei Hilo 26:52.54
29 Akamu, Alexis KS Hawaii 27:02.52
30 Uemoto, Alyssa Waiakea 27:41.87
31 Kowardy, Eleanore Parker 27:48.03
32 Kiernan, Sarah Hawaii Prep 27:51.10
33 Gillespie, Sara Kealakehe 27:51.62
34 Clark, Acadia Kealakehe 28:04.67
35 Ching, Lei Lin KS Hawaii 28:15.97
36 Wolin, Megan Hawaii Prep 28:29.96
37 Pratt, Taylor Kea’au 29:09.68
38 Nakamaru, Juliana Hawaii Prep 29:12.26
39 Makely, Murphy Hawaii Prep 29:16.14
40 Guevara-Rodrigues, Quian Hilo 29:46.65
41 Miura, Sunday Hilo 29:48.91
42 Montizor, Cheizyn KS Hawaii 29:51.49
43 Nishida, Catherine Kea’au 29:51.80
44 Varricatt, Leyla Waiakea 30:23.43
45 Chinen, Gianna KS Hawaii 30:45.77
46 Blankenship, Nalani Waiakea 31:02.42
47 Soares, Liliynn Kealakehe 31:14.06
48 Broomell, Airi Hilo 31:15.17
49 Wawner, Fischer Hawaii Prep 31:27.09
50 Martinez, Nicole Hawaii Prep 31:35.37
51 Palfy, Laila Konawaena 31:39.59
52 Moynahan, Catie Hawaii Prep 32:27.26
53 Aurelio, Maria Ka’u 32:35.58
54 Igloria, Daphne Kea’au 33:24.13
55 Sarbin-Dela Cruz, Saskia Ka’u 35:42.77
56 Long-McGie, Isabel Konawaena 36:06.99
57 Holshuh, Hailey Honokaa 36:11.00
58 Sasaki, Quinci Konawaena 38:02.15
59 Enenoria, Lindsey KS Hawaii 38:53.97
60 Jiao, Yuqi Konawaena 42:37.35
61 Padilla, Melody Kea’au 54:01.00
Boys
1 Ueda, Ngirakederang Waiakea 17:50.48
2 Childers, Levi Kealakehe 18:33.08
3 Ankrum, Aiden Kealakehe 18:55.34
4 Cornforth, Cameron Kealakehe 18:56.16
5 Todd, Kiyoshi Waiakea 19:01.97
6 Ankrum, Archer Kealakehe 19:30.17
7 Smith, Parker Hawaii Prep 19:35.86
8 Vannatta, Zane Hawaii Prep 19:47.21
9 Cariveau, Daniel Makua Lani 19:47.51
10 Haines, Kekai Hawaii Prep 19:58.09
11 Selley, Mason Waiakea 20:15.15
12 Vanderpool, Spencer Kealakehe 20:23.09
13 Tang, Alex Hawaii Prep 20:24.27
14 Hart, Zachary Kealakehe 20:29.92
15 Vento, Noah Waiakea 20:36.25
16 Labasan, Matthew Waiakea 20:38.90
17 Smith, Cody Makua Lani 20:55.85
18 Ignacio, Kyle Waiakea 20:57.40
19 Keana’Aina, Isaac Konawaena 21:05.43
20 Andrade, Shaydon Hilo 21:13.84
21 Colbert, Rylan Waiakea 21:15.54
22 Andrist, Caiden Hawaii Prep 21:34.41
23 Provo, William Kea’au 21:36.22
24 Caverly, Mikael Honokaa 21:36.98
25 Johnson, Raoul Kea’au 21:44.78
26 Wells, Aiden Ka’u 21:46.00
27 Norem, Victor Waiakea 21:48.07
28 Nakamoto, Samuel Konawaena 21:55.72
29 Letawsky, Kiran Waiakea 22:01.20
30 Pai, Kala Konawaena 22:20.96
31 Cabatbat, Landon Kealakehe 22:28.01
32 Sato, Kaleb Waiakea 22:34.66
33 Mahuna, Micah KS Hawaii 22:41.25
34 Buckley Francisco, Kalam KS Hawaii 22:45.28
35 Gleason, Reece Honokaa 22:51.98
36 Chilson, Sean Waiakea 22:54.84
37 Santiago, Alexander Honokaa 23:01.05
38 Manoukis, Demos St. Joseph’s 23:03.14
39 Kekuewa, Azariah KS Hawaii 23:06.95
40 Pratt, Chase Kea’au 23:08.18
41 Vanderpool, Kenta Kealakehe 23:12.53
42 Akina, Ikuhaiakalani KS Hawaii 23:13.19
43 Hakoda, Scott Waiakea 23:13.48
44 Thornton, Lance Konawaena 23:25.24
45 Leite, Daycen Waiakea 23:32.69
46 Rodrigues, Jason Honokaa 23:34.87
47 Lockhart, Hiro Waiakea 23:40.30
48 Dierking, Adam KS Hawaii 23:42.93
49 Blankenship, Ethan Waiakea 23:43.26
50 Castaneda-Petrowski, Dan Honokaa 23:44.41
51 Oye, Makana Parker 23:47.06
52 Furuto, Riki Konawaena 23:47.50
53 Taylor, Jacob Honokaa 23:55.26
54 Lopez, Kaimana KS Hawaii 24:11.20
55 Hock, Henry Hilo 24:13.10
56 Nguyen, Peter Hilo 24:13.39
57 Gatting, Kai Hilo 25:05.48
58 Edwards, Isa Laupahoehoe 25:21.71
59 Roback, Hauola Konawaena 25:23.43
60 Tina, Tyler KS Hawaii 25:27.89
61 Monello, Eli Hawaii Prep 25:28.82
62 Farias, John KS Hawaii 25:56.61
63 Piianaia, Silas KS Hawaii 26:12.65
64 Fediuk, Tavis Konawaena 26:36.71
65 Gonsalves, Michael Honokaa 27:01.97
66 Clark, Anthony Konawaena 27:22.10
67 Mariano, Aiseyah Konawaena 27:24.67
68 Grosch, Judah Makua Lani 27:35.32
69 Padilla, Rayson Hilo 27:41.85
70 Helms, Mukan Hilo 28:18.27
71 Kim, Chance (Imi) Honokaa 29:10.82
72 Seo-Sandoval, Ethan Honokaa 29:26.52
73 Nitura, Archie Laupahoehoe 29:44.29
74 Canine, Keegan Kohala 30:19.76
75 Souza, Joaqim Honokaa 31:03.74
76 Visaya, Wailau Waiakea 32:41.00
77 Uawala, Mykah Waiakea 34:31.69
78 Kim, Jaydon Honokaa 38:11.36