The Maui Warriors returned to their home course, which they practice on almost daily, at this weekend’s cross country meet. The boys team finished fourth, and the girls team finished fifth.

With two meets left until the Maui Interscholastic League championships, the Warriors are buckling down and eyeing positions at the state meet; however many team members are left injured. Six girls were able to compete, but only four boys. All four of the boys finished in the top third of the 103 runners.

Injuries such as shin splints have members out, but still, head coach Jeremy “J-Del” De La Torre believes “we can qualify at least six boys and at least five girls, so it can be the most in history, 11 total.”

Last year, the Warriors sent four athletes; nevertheless, this year has brought growth within the players.

“There’s been a list of [runners] that have really improved, come a long way, and definitely improved exponentially from where they were,” Coach J-Del said.

A few of these runners include freshman Richard Haney and junior Sarai Poepoe who led Saturday’s race by placing first in their teams.

Despite injures the team is still “definitely starting to peak,” Coach J-Del said, “we got some good meets in, good quality practices, and [we’re] definitely starting to peak at the right time.”

The home course was a three-mile run and took the runners around the outskirts of the high school campus.

Throughout the path, spectators, cheerleaders, and fellow non-participating runners, supported the competitors by cheering at almost every corner motivating the runners to hoʻomau.

To join in on the cheering, click here to see when and where the next meets are.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Photo by Aaron Veincent

The kāne huddle up before their race begins.