KAPA‘A — Kaua‘i High School cross country teams had a mixed bag Saturday at the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cross country races hosted by Kapa‘a High School. A big race on O‘ahu Friday affected the outcome of the boys’ race and
KAPA‘A — Kaua‘i High School cross country teams had a mixed bag Saturday at the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cross country races hosted by Kapa‘a High School.
A big race on O‘ahu Friday affected the outcome of the boys’ race and the completion of required paperwork pushed the Kaua‘i girls back to the top spot.
“The O‘ahu race really took its toll,” said Ross Shimabukuro, the Kaua‘i High School athletic director. “Kainoa Matsumoto, in the Top 10 of the field in the last two races, came in 16th overall.”
But on the brighter side, Hayley Walcher joined the pack after satisfying her paperwork requirements, leading the Kaua‘i girls to a 3-point advantage over Waimea High School.
“The O‘ahu race was a really big race,” said Joshua Herr’s mother Saturday during the Cub-O-Ree at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.
“Josh went to O‘ahu, raced, and came back Friday night for the Saturday race.”
He finished top of the boys’ race, crossing on a 17:50.00, off from his 16:57.00 run of the past two weeks.
“This was a nice meet up at the Kaua‘i Ranch,” said Basil Scott, the KIF scorekeeper. “It was nice, but the hilly course slowed everyone’s time by a minute or so.”
Host Kapa‘a High School, after suffering a disqualification last week which cost them second place in the boys’ race by a scant three points, rebounded with Ronnie Perono filling in the second overall finisher spot at 19:25.00, almost two minutes behind Joshua.
Kapa‘a boys collected 36 points followed by Kaua‘i at 50 points, Waimea at 56 points and Island School at 92 points.
Interrupted by Mickey Rita of Waimea (19:44.00) filling in the third overall spot, Kapa‘a fielded the fourth (Micah Kamuela Nobriga-Ferris, 19:54.00), fifth (Joshua Cram, 19:59.00), and 12th (Eli Lluellen, 21:08.00) spots, overtaking Kaua‘i with Cram’s crossing.
Following Joshua for Kaua‘i, Charles Samuel finished sixth overall at 20:21.00 followed by Andrew Herr (20:52.00), Matsumoto (21:31.00, 16th), Christian Sarmiento (21:57.00, 17th) and Koa Kam (22:01.00, 18th).
Following Mickey Rita, Waimea’s leaders included Bradly Lumabao (20:22.00, 7th), Henry Delos Reyes (21:00.00, 11th) and Hazzard McDougall (21:12.00, 15th), the Menehune quarterback who led the football team to a 14-7 win over Kapa‘a Friday night at Hanapepe Stadium.
Eric Potter (20:43.00) and Kellan Wortman (20:53.00) led Island School at eighth and ninth places, respectively, followed by Travis Kim (22:32.00, 25th) and James Papa (22:46.00, 27th).
Girls race
Joy Claypoole of Island School returned to the course setting the pace, crossing first overall at 21:41.00 followed by Kaua‘i’s Krista Schnackenberg at second overall on a 22:52.00, challenged with a strong finish by Kapa‘a’s Cassie Wilson at 22:52.90, less than a second behind.
Heidi Herr, Joshua’s sister, followed at fourth overall on a 23:10.00 before four Waimea girls filled in the ranks.
Kaycee San-Augustine Nordmeier (23:58.00, 5th), Talia Young (24:03.00, 6th), Bailey San-Augustine Nordmeier (24:17.00, 7th) and Lani-Rae Green (24:18.00, 8th) made up the blue wave which was chased by Walcher at ninth overall on a 24:34.00 run, Walcher giving Kaua‘i the edge over the quadruple Waimea threat. Cascade Mayer (24:55.00, 11th) and Tirah Yamamoto (24:58.00, 12th) iced the Kaua‘i win.
“After the first race, the girls decided they would come in a pack,” said Waimea coach Brandon Moises Friday night at the football game. “But three of the four leaders play volleyball and they have a key game Saturday so I don’t even know if they’re running. I just keep telling them they need to be in peak form when they come out to run. They’ve got it figured out.”
Kaua‘i girls collected 38 points over the challenge of Waimea who finished with 42 points followed by Kapa‘a girls at 58 points and Island School at 87 points.
Following Wilson, Kapa‘a saw Kekai Gonsalves (24:43.00, 12th), Coral Vernon (25:01.00, 13th), Malia Hickey (25:12.00, 14th) and Nani Brun (25:53.00, 18th) fill in the leader spots.
Following Claypoole, Island School leaders included Makenna Olson (25:18.00, 15th) Ally Pascual (26:00.00, 20th) and Mattea Wortmann (28:08.00, 31st).
Kaua‘i High School hosts this Saturday’s cross country meet starting at 8:30 a.m.
• Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
