Cross Country races against time in MIL Meet #2
Photo by Jaylin Kekiwi
Freshman Paytin Ayau closes in on the finish line during the Cross Country meet on September 7, 2013. Ayau finished first in the JV boys division.
PUKALANI – Practice makes perfect, and in the case of the Kamehameha Schools Maui cross country runners, this phrase definitely rings true.
Kamehameha Schools Maui Warriors had their third Maui Interscholastic League cross country race on September 7, 2013. On the fast course at King Kekaulike High School, several of the runners shaved off seconds, even minutes, from their previous times, according to Head Coach Jon Svenson.
“I’m ecstatic because they all improved their standings,” he said. “The returning runners are beating people that they haven’t been able to in previous seasons.”
One runner who improved dramatically in this race was junior Lilia Lorenzo, who improved on her time by about five minutes.
“[Lorenzo] did really well. I was really excited for her,” Coach Svenson said.
According to the coach, freshman Paytin Ayau (first place finisher in the JV boys division), sophomore Ikaika Renaud, who finished seventh in the varsity boys division, were also standout runners.
“When you see someone way in the front, that’s what makes them stand out during that race,” he said. Ayau has finished in first place in the JV division in all three cross country meets so far this year.
Junior Mia Czerwinski (who came in thirteenth) also improved during this race.
“We had a goal. [Czerwinski] was coming in at the twenties, so we told her that if she wanted to drop her time, she needed to come in at least at fifteenth,” Coach Svenson said.
Czerwinski ended the race two places ahead of her goal, at thirteenth.
Team captain Avinash Singh was pleased with how the team did.
“As a team, I believe that we did really well. I think that we all stuck to it,” Singh said.
He also stated that team bonding helps with the dynamics of the team.
“We all like to encourage each other, and it really helps during the races when people are cheering from the sidelines,” he said.
Support the cross country runners at their next meet at 8:00 a.m. at Kapalua Village on Saturday, September 21.
Lance Cagasan • Sep 9, 2013 at 8:44 am
Congratulation X-cross country runners and coaches. You are definitely improving. Keep working hard and meeting those team and individual goals!! Way to go!!!!