WAIMEA — Pierce Murphy (16:10.30) and Lauren Spears (22:14.90) were first to finish for Island School, crossing first in both the boys and girls races, Saturday at the Waimea High School Invitational cross country meet. But Kapa‘a’s Joshua Cram (20:32.10)
WAIMEA — Pierce Murphy (16:10.30) and Lauren Spears (22:14.90) were first to finish for Island School, crossing first in both the boys and girls races, Saturday at the Waimea High School Invitational cross country meet.
But Kapa‘a’s Joshua Cram (20:32.10) edged out Island School’s Dylan Morrison-Fogel (20:50.90) in ninth and 10th places, respectively, to swing the tide and give the Kapa‘a boys the win with 37 points to Island School’s 49 points.
Joshua Herr (18:29.90) and Mason Vegas (19:03.70) finished second and third overall to keep Kaua‘i High School in the mix until its No. 3 finisher , Travis Navarro (21:29.00) crossed 17th overall to put the race out of reach and Kaua‘i settling for third place with 55 points.
Joshua Ponting (21:08.70) was Waimea’s first finisher at 14th overall, the host Menehune ending in fourth place with 90 points.
Ashley Schnackenberg finished third overall as the first finisher for Kaua‘i High School on a 22:49.80 run, more than five seconds back of Waimea’s San Agustin Nordmeier who stopped the clock at 22:44.10 in the runner-up spot below Spears.
But following Schnackenberg, a wave of red followed as Heidi Herr (23:04.80) and Melissa Gil Rais Carlos (23:05.60) crossed in fourth and fifth place, respectively to pull Kaua‘i ahead for first place with 27 points.
Jayme Jacinto clinched second place for Waimea with her ninth overall finish, stopping the clock at 23:22.60, the Menehune ladies marking 63 points, just four points ahead of Kapa‘a.
The Warrior ladies’ first finisher crossed sixth overall as Tiare Welborn stopped the clock at 23:09.40. Kapa‘a slipped to third place with 67 points when Tambrina Fairbanks crossed the line 11th overall on a 24:14.90 run.
Spears was left at the top until Joy Claypoole crossed as the Voyagers’ second finisher in 12th overall at 24:19.50, almost six seconds short of Fairbanks. That spread between first and 12th dropped Island School girls to fourth place with 79 points.
The Waimea Invitational served as a prelude to the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation cross country’s first season meet this Saturday starting at 8 a.m. at Kapa‘a High School.
The public is invited to view the competition at no charge.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
