Vulcan Harriers Dominate Warrior 3-miler

Runners receive final instructions from the Big Dog prior to start

This past Saturday nearly 180 walkers, runners and joggers came to Waiakea High School to take part in the 13^th annual Warrior 3-miler.

    The event is hosted by the Waiakea boys and girls cross-country teams as a way to raise money for the state high school championships, this year to be held on the island of Kauai.

   It is also a way for the Warrior harriers to get the community out to enjoy a morning of fun, filled exercise, in a low impact environment as most of the run/walk is done on grass.

   University of Hawaii at Hilo cross-country coach, Jaime Guerpo, also brings many of his runners to Waiakea to gauge where they are prior to the collegiate season.

   “I like to support youth running in our community and this event is also a way in which we can test many of our own runners,” Guerpo said.

More than 160 runners and walkers finished the 3-miler

Former UHH runner, Germain Ortiz, lead a large contingent of UHH runners.  Ortiz had won the Warrior 3-miler for the past four years, jumped out to an early lead and was threatened by former Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, Mark Turner and former Christian Liberty standout, Keoni Ucker.

   Turner won the BIIF last year and has joined Ucker and the rest of Guerpo’s Vulcans for the upcoming collegiate season.  Ortiz hung on to win the race in 15 minutes and 52 seconds with Turner taking second in 15:55 and Ucker at 15:56.

     Joshua Robinson and Honokaa’s Christopher Mosch battled for top honors in the high school division with Robinson coming out on top in 16:59 to Mosch at 17:21.

    For the women it was a pair of UHH runners winning overall honors with just one second separating the two.  Krista Andrew defended her Warrior 3-miler title by edging out teammate and former Keaau High standout, Nina Hagemann, with her winning time of 18:56.

Five time champion, Germain Ortiz

For the high school girls it was Hilo’s Shalila de Bourmont winning in 20:42, with Waiakea’s Kelsie Kobayashi following in 21:01.

   Golden master’s runner, Angie Miyashiro, took a second place medal at the National Championships a few weeks ago, easily won her division in a time of 21:19.

   Miyashiro was inducted into the Big Island Sports Hall of Fame four years ago ranks as one of the top females in the nation in her age division.

   RBI League World Champions coach, Agnes Yamauchi, ran the 3-miler finishing well ahead of husband, Wayne.  The Yamauchi’s are long time supporters of the Warrior program and have been instrumental in the community in organizing youth activities.

   Seventy year old, Richard Alderson, continues to stay your through exercise and in the process won his age division at the Warrior 3-miler.

For complete results visit: https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2009/08/22/warrior-3-miler-big-success/

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