KS Maui runners faced some challenges in the second Maui Interscholastic League Cross Country race on September 1, 2012, at the Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus.

The team had their ups and downs. All the runners finished the race, an improvement from MIL Meet #1. Some of the runners had their best times and showing promise for improvement.

“I thought it went well, we had the home field advantage and we felt more comfortable,” co-captain Victoria Alakai said.

Others on the team felt that this was not their best race, many of  them having slower times than their last meet. A few of the  runners in the boys race said that they got pain in their sides and that slowed their times down.

“I thought that  running down the hill would make it [the side pain] better, but it didn’t,” junior Daniel Quenga said.

The start of the race was behind Ka’ulaheanuiokamoku Gym. The runners ran up through the high school, past middle school, and through the elementary school, then back down to high school. The finish line was on the practice field.

“It’s a killer course,” Coach Kanani Baz said.

Coach Jon Svenson said, “What I really liked about today’s race was that they were staying together.”

The team paced each other making sure that they would all stay in the race.

The coaches and team all understand that a cross country season is not a sprint, but a marathon, and envision getting better throughout the season.

Junior Kamele Ah You said,”We could have done better… there is always room for improvement”

“All that matters is what happens in the long run,” Coach Svenson said.