Members of the KIF cross-country contingent made their way to Kualoa Ranch on O’ahu for the 7th Annual Iolani Invitational Meet on Sept. 10. Both boys and girls ran the grueling 3-mile course in blistering, hot, and humid conditions. Waimea
Members of the KIF cross-country contingent made their way to Kualoa Ranch on O’ahu for the 7th Annual Iolani Invitational Meet on Sept. 10.
Both boys and girls ran the grueling 3-mile course in blistering, hot, and humid conditions.
Waimea High School chaperone Maggie Martin noted that they were treated with great hospitality during the stay, but as the group went to sleep in Punahou wrestling room, they noticed one frightening detail — they were locked in!
“We were unable to use the bathroom,” Martin said in an email.
But the group defied the odds and came away with great memories and experiences.
Waimea’s Scott Martin was the top Kaua’i boys finisher. Martin came in 21st-place out of 147 runners. The top 25 individuals took home medals.
His brother Nathan finished in 50th-place and his sister Rachel was the 72nd runner to finish for the girls.
Carolyn Hoeckman (108th) and Candice Klein (137th) rounded out the Waimea runners.
Kaua’i’s Chelsea Smith-Wishard was the top girls finisher for the Garden Isle. Smith-Wishard nailed down an impressive 9th-place showing. She was also the first Hawai’i girl to finish the race.
Kapa’a’s Alex Pond placed 77th out of 146 runners.
17 mainland schools entered the event. Defending state girls’ champion Lauren Ho of HBA didn’t compete in the race.
This year’s cross-country season will be the first time the girls will run a 3-mile race at states. Usually it’s only two miles, with the boys running the customary three mile race.
Last year it was still a two mile event, although Kaua’i ran a 3-mile race.
The Waimea Invitational is up next for the cross-country season. The meet starts at 9 a.m. on Sept. 24.
The first regular cross-country race is penned in for Oct. 1.
