Pierce Murphy won the Waimea Invitational yesterday with a time of 17:06. The Island School sophomore, running unattached to his school due to the school transfer rules, finished a whole two minutes ahead of the second-place finisher Christian Tangalin (19:06)
Pierce Murphy won the Waimea Invitational yesterday with a time of 17:06. The Island School sophomore, running unattached to his school due to the school transfer rules, finished a whole two minutes ahead of the second-place finisher Christian Tangalin (19:06) of Waimea High School.
Although not an official league meet, the invitational traditionally kicks off the start of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cross country season — which starts this Saturday. Because of the league restrictions, this is the only meet Murphy could run in. Murphy transferred out of Kula School to Island School this year and is not eligible to represent the Voyagers in any athletics for at least one semester.
This means last year’s cross country KIF runner-up, who most likely would have been ranked No. 1 in the league, will not be able to represent Kaua‘i at the state championships despite a qualifying time.
Murphy is well known among the long-distance running community and has fared well against runners much more experienced than he is.
Full invitational results were not immediately made available by press time.
