Four runners qualify for state meet
Photo by Aaron Veincent
Senior Jasmine Casey begins the 3-mile course of the MIL championship meet with sophomore Keely Logan by her side at KCC park this Saturday. Four KS Maui runners qualified for the state meet.
Four of the cross country runners who were selected to run the 3-mile course at the Maui Interscholastic League cross country championships Saturday qualified for the state championships, Oct. 29.
Those who participated in yesterday’s run at Kahului Community Center Park were from both the junior varsity and varsity teams. They were selected to compete based on their times, eligibility, and turn-out attitudes throughout the season.
“With it being the last meet of the season, I believe I’ve come a long way since the beginning, and ended off on a great note,” junior Gideon Aiwohi said. Click here to see how all varsity boy runners performed this season.
The course at KCC was the same location of the first race of the season, but unlike the first race, which was run in a relay style, this race was run individually.
“Going into the race today, I thought I was going to be prepared since we’ve ran here before,” junior Kennedy-Kainoa Tamashiro said.
Although the location was the same, the route wasn’t. This time it included two laps as well as a new path that included a rigorous hill.
Coach Jeremy De La Torre said that the team improved well over the season, and the team also said they’ve made stronger bonds between one another.
“Our team sets goals not just individually, but as a group,” senior Jasmine Casey said.
Click here to see how the varsity girl runners performed this season.
Many non-participating teammates showed in support of the selected runners, being that it was the last meet of the Maui Interscholastic Season.
They carried signs and followed their teammates around the course to encourage them to hoʻomau and push through.
At this meet and throughout the season, students kept in mind a quote from Coach Matt Linder: “The best pace is a suicide pace and today’s a good day to die!” It represented a never-give-up philosophy and reminded the runners to always give 100%.
Runners support their teammates along the course.
The top 33 runners in the league for both boys and girls moved on to the state competition, with three alternates for each.
Kamehameha Maui girls junior Lily Gavagan (25:05, 25th) and junior Kahopewai Mateaki (25:27, 27th) will attend the championships.
The other girls’ times: Kennedy-Kainoa Tamashiro (30:02), Keely Logan (27:52), Faith Bonacorsi (28:28), and Jasmine Casey (31:17).
Sophomore Cy Ornellas (20:05, 26th) and senior Andrew Amaral (20:08, 27th) will represent Kamehameha Maui for the boys team at the state championships.
The other boys’ times: Gideon Aiwohi (21:35), Brody Yamada (22:50), John Williamson (23:55), Makaio Lorenzo (23:41), and Josh Kailiehu (27:58).
Click here to see the junior varsity boys’ season times, and click here to see the junior varsity girls’ times.
The Honolulu Marathon Cross Country Championships will be held at Hawaiʻi Prepatory Academy on the island of Hawaiʻi this Saturday.
The four state runners will continue training this week alongside teammates who are volunteering to run with them to continue to support them in advance of the big meet.
