Giving back in Life the secret to success – BIRR Big Dog 5K run/walk

Winston Churchill said “you make a living by what you get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Truer words can never be spoken as we reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving.

I’ve been blessed over the years with many friends and supporters and have never found myself short of money to buy food but there are those not so lucky.

That is why I‘ve been so honored to be the first ever recipient of the Big Island Road Runners Club Thanksgiving Day 5K run/walk.

The BIRR was looking at a way to give back to the community by combining a joint effort to raise money or food for those less fortunate through the Salvation Army. Over 300 runners and walkers participated on Thanksgiving Day and were asked to bring a can good or to make a monetary donation.

Over $641 was raised and 6 large bins of canned goods went to the Salvation Army during this most critical time of the year.

Despite having Stage 4 terminal brain cancer I am regarded as fully functional and that in itself is indeed a blessing.

As I reflect on the many things I am thankful for I have to say I appreciate all the many people that care about me.

You see to be functional means I have my wits about me. It means I look forward to waking up every morning at 5 am.  I am still able to do my five to seven mile walk each day. I can prepare for what the future has in store for me.  For some people the end comes instantly, like an accident or a heart attack. For me, I know my time here is limited and I have started to plan for my final days.

I look forward to each day and prepare better for it.  I have a deeper enjoyment toward life.

Each day gives me hope and brings me a deeper appreciation for those things that I normally take for granted, like my loving wife and now care giver, Randee.

So I’m honored that the BIRR would make me a part of their Thanksgiving run/walk as well as making it a benefit for the Salvation Army as a means to raise money and food for those that have so little during this holiday season.

During the 3.1 mile race it was Hilo High’s Stephan Hunter coming in first overall for the men in 17 minutes 11 seconds with Waiakea’s Ian McQuate 1 second behind.

“The entire race we were exchanging the lead,” Hunter said.  “I had to put on a late kick with 100 meters to go to win the race.”

When asked what he was thankful for on this day Hunter said, I am thankful that my family is doing well and that my brother is coming home for the holiday.”

McQuate echoed Hunter’s sentiment and is thankful for his own family and friends.

Following in third place overall was Joe Barcia in a time of 17:55.

“I am thankful for family and friends and especially that my daughter got up early to come down and be a part of the wonderful event,” Barcia said.

In fourth overall was Sven Loeschengruber (17:58), fifth was St Joseph’s Andrew Langtry (18:06) according to Rick Otani timer for the BIRR event.

Dano Banks who was on hand to do the 2 mile walk with his wife Marti said “I am thankful for my friends, family and good health.”

For the women it was a pair of Hilo High girls taking first and second place. They also happen to be the best of friends, Carmen Garson Shumway in a time of 20:38 and Mehana Sabado-Halpern 10 seconds behind.

In third for the women was Heather Rosario (21:38) fourth Lory Hunter (21:52) fifth Eqberiela Benito (22:05).

Garson-Shumway noted that she came out to do this run in support of the Big Dog and so did Sabado-Halpern and for raising donations for a great cause the Salvation Army.

So on this typical liquid sunshine day in our hometown of Hilo many folks came out to enjoy a fun filled community event. They all shared the same sentiment of wanting to give back in record numbers to those less fortunate.

And someday should you see a very thankful walker/jogger come climbing up Shower Drive in the early morning hours remember to say “woof” and never shy away from “Running with the Big Dog.”

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BIIF BOYS Champions top 50 – Conners wins

 BIIF Cross Country Championships
                                Hawaii Prep  October 19, 2012           

 Place TmPl No.  Name               Yr School                    Varsity_
===== ==== ==== ================== == ========================= ========
    1    1   52 TONY CONNORS       11 Honokaa                   18:27.10
    2    2  215 IAN MCQUATE        11 Waiakea                   18:35.70
    3    3  190 PAUL GREGG         12 Parker                    18:39.30
    4       200 ANDREW LANGTRY     12 St. Joseph’s              18:53.90
    5    4  159 JOSIAH ADAMS       10 Kohala                    18:58.25
    6    5   29 MICHAEL SPETICH    11 Hawaii Prep               18:58.95
    7    6  151 THUNDER FROST      10 Kealakehe                 19:03.15
    8    7   36 STEPHEN HUNTER     11 Hilo                      19:15.90
    9    8   22 JUSTIN MACY        12 Hawaii Prep               19:24.70
   10    9   44 TIMON SKINNER      11 Hilo                      19:25.10
   11   10  193 TYLER MCCULLOUGH   12 Parker                    19:40.85
   12   11   90 MAKA’ALA CRUZ      11 Kamehameha (hawaii)       19:41.20
   13   12   58 BROOKS MCVEY       12 Honokaa                   19:42.60
   14   13   16 WALTER DISNEY      11 Hawaii Prep               19:51.45
   15   14  112 DALLAS TADA        12 Kamehameha (hawaii)       19:53.45
   16   15  103 JONAH KNELL        12 Kamehameha (hawaii)       19:54.95
   17   16   47 ISAAC ANGELO       11 Honokaa                   19:55.65
   18   17   46 SEANRY AGBAYANI    11 Honokaa                   19:57.50
   19   18   96 COLTON HILL        11 Kamehameha (hawaii)       19:58.35
   20   19   97 KAIMIOLA HO        10 Kamehameha (hawaii)       19:58.95
   21   20  149 CJ AGUSEN          12 Kealakehe                 20:00.30
   22   21   61 SEAN PERALA        11 Honokaa                   20:03.80
   23   22  155 TYLER LA SALLE     11 Kealakehe                 20:08.15
   24   23   39 RICHARD KERR       12 Hilo                      20:12.05
   25   24  127 JEFFERY FERRELL    10 Kea’au                    20:21.15
   26   25  152 JEREMY GAMBING     11 Kealakehe                 20:22.85
   27   26   40 HYRUM KIM          10 Hilo                      20:23.15
   28   27  220 MARK PACRIS        10 Waiakea                   20:23.45
   29   28   20 NATHAN LADWIG      9  Hawaii Prep               20:27.15
   30   29  205 MATTHEW CAMACHO    11 Waiakea                   20:30.45
   31   30   63 DAVID ROBINSON     12 Honokaa                   20:31.30
   32   31   64 PEDRO SANCHES      12 Honokaa                   20:36.65
   33   32   95 MALU HAMMOND       12 Kamehameha (hawaii)       20:36.90
   34   33   94 KAWIKA FINLEY      12 Kamehameha (hawaii)       20:38.35
   35   34   13 HIDE AKAI          10 Hawaii Prep               20:46.20
   36        31 RYUTA YODA         12 Dq                        20:46.35
   37   35   21 JAKE LAI           11 Hawaii Prep               20:49.55
   38   36  158 GAVIN ULMAN        10 Kealakehe                 20:56.95
   39   37  169 JOSHUA KUPERUS     10 Makua Lani                21:01.15
   40   38  209 HAJIME HAYANO      11 Waiakea                   21:02.15
   41   39   33 RIVER BROWN        9  Hilo                      21:03.75
   42       198 LUKE POTTER        10 Dq                        21:04.05
   43   40  211 ALAN IKEHARA       11 Waiakea                   21:05.35
   44   41  191 EVAN KASBERG       12 Parker                    21:21.55
   45   42  123 AUSTIN ANDERSON    11 Kea’au                    21:27.10
   46   43   43 MAXIMILLIAN PANOFF 11 Hilo                      21:33.15
   47   44  122 DAVIN ALVIENTO     12 Kea’au                    21:48.35
   48   45    6 KEKOA MUNDO        11 Christian Liberty         21:49.85
   49   46  186 JESSE BURNS        12 Parker                    21:50.75
   50   47  154 SCOTT HENDERSON    11 Kealakehe                 21:51.05

BIIF Scrambling for playoff advantage in cross country

BIIF Cross Country at Kamehameha-HI

KEAAU – Kamehameha-Hawaii played host to the final regular season all schools cross country meet in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation while the league prepares for the BIIF Championships.

The defending team BIIF champions for the girls Hawaii Preparatory Academy and for the boys Honokaa jockeyed for position to once again defend their team titles.

According to HPA Athletic Director the top four teams in the BIIF along with the top 37 girls and top 38 boys will it make to states.

Saturday’s regular season finale saw BIIF teams peaking at the right time to fight for those positions with the host Warriors remaining hopeful for a positive outcome.

“Our goal is just to get a boys team into states,” Warrior Coach Ryan Cabalse said.  “We’ve never had a scoring boy’s team at states.”

Honokaa boys may be the league’s biggest surprise, winning the coveted BIIF  team title 5 years in a row, but never during this season, until Saturdays last all school’s meet.

For the Dragons it was Anthony Connors winning his first meet of the season and teammate Brooks McVey taking third giving Honokaa a solid 1-3 punch.

This was a first time this season that both boys have broken into the top 5 and for Connors it was a huge confidence booster.

“We’re peaking at the right times,” Connors said.  “I think we have a great shot at winning our sixth team titles.”

Kohala’s Josiah Adams broke into the top 5 for the first time this season.

“I did it for my parents who come out to watch me run every week,”  Adams said.  “I hope I made them proud today?”

Adams came away with a newfound confidence in his ability.  “I’m still pretty excited and I’m  looking forward to the BIIF Championships.”

Adams wasn’t the only boy new to the top five leader board and with it its confidence booster.

HPA’s Michael Spetich, a junior, wanted to ‘prove’ himself and be peaking at the right time to give himself a booster shot of confidence prior to the BIIF’s.

Waiakea’s Ian McQuate who has always been in the top 5 leader board is saving the best for last.

“I don’t want to sound cocky but I think I can win BIIF’s,” McQuate said.  “If I peak at the right time then anything is possible, you gotta believe in miracles.”

McQuate is hanging in the top 3 or 4 along with Parker’s Paul Gregg which makes the two of them the most dangerous to emerge at the top of the BIIF leader board.

In the boys team standings coming out of the Kamehameha meet it was Honokaa winning with 60 points HPA 63, Hilo 79, Kealakehe 94 and Kamehameha-HI 96.

While the Honokaa boys team have been off the radar so has the Ka Makani boys until this Saturdays meet which opened the door to a new host of individuals and teams waiting to break down the obstacles which have prevented them in the past from breaking through.

The HPA girls under Coach Michael Franklin are in his seventh season and have won 5 BIIF titles in 2006, 2008-2011 including the State Championship last year.

HPA’s Zoe Sims is the defending BIIF Champion for the girls and there is no defending BIIF boys champ as Chayce Moniz from Honokaa has graduated last season.

Ka Makani Sims had this to say about defending her BIIF crown after Saturdays win at Kamehameha.

“I don’t really think about that a lot,” Sims said.  “I just run how I feel and today’s top five girls were all within 10 seconds of each other.”

Ka Makani teammates Kristina Van Pernis and Mariah Haight along with Hilo’s talented duo of Mehana Sanbado-Halpern and Carmen Garson-Shumway are all great friends and they help each other in forming a pack.

“We’ve got the best five pack in the BIIF and we’re all keeping in close, we’re glad that they want to run with us because strong runners only makes us better,” Sims said.

“When running you must really be in the moment,” Van Pernis said.

The BIIF cross country action has a BYE this weekend then moves to the rolling hills of HPA for the BIIF Cross Country Championships on Friday October 19.

The HHSAA state championship will also be run on the defending state champion’s home course the Friday of OCT 26.

Boys top 50 from the Kamahema Schools X-C meet on 10.6.12

hameha Schools Hawaii Campus                        
                             Keaau, HI  – 10/6/2012                             
                              Last Completed Event                              
 
Event 4  Boys 3 Mile Run CC Varsity
=======================================================================         
    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points         
=======================================================================         
  1 Connors, Tony                Honokaa               17:29.82    1            
  2 McQuate, Ian                 Waiakea               17:45.71    2            
  3 McVey, Brooks                Honokaa               17:49.03    3            
  4 Spetich, Michael             Hawaii Prep           17:57.20    4            
  5 Adams, Josiah                Kohala                18:01.46    5            
  6 Frost, Thunder               Kealakehe             18:04.60    6            
  7 Langtry, Andrew              St Joseph             18:11.23                 
  8 Skinner, Timon               Hilo                  18:13.98    7            
  9 Hunter, Stephen              Hilo                  18:14.69    8            
 10 Macy, Justin                 Hawaii Prep           18:32.18    9            
 11 La Salle, Tyler              Kealakehe             18:32.62   10            
 12 Hill, Colton                 KS Hawaii             18:40.83   11            
 13 Disney, Walter               Hawaii Prep           18:44.43   12            
 14 Ho, Kaimiola                 KS Hawaii             18:47.70   13            
 15 Ladwig, Nathan               Hawaii Prep           18:57.72   14            
 16 Kerr, Richard                Hilo                  18:58.66   15            
 17 Ferrell, Jeffery             Kea’au                18:59.33   16            
 18 Angelo, Isaac                Honokaa               19:01.61   17            
 19 Kim, Hyrum                   Hilo                  19:04.51   18            
 20 Agbayani, Seanry             Honokaa               19:09.66   19            
 21 Quinlan, Sean                Honokaa               19:10.38   20            
 22 Cruz, Makaala                KS Hawaii             19:15.58   21            
 23 Robinson, David              Honokaa               19:17.59   22            
 24 Henderson, Scott             Kealakehe             19:18.25   23            
 25 Lai, Jake                    Hawaii Prep           19:18.92   24            
 26 Javier, Jerry                H A A S               19:19.55                 
 27 Tada, Dallas                 KS Hawaii             19:22.00   25            
 28 Knell, Jonah                 KS Hawaii             19:24.08   26            
 29 Agusen, CJ                   Kealakehe             19:24.55   27            
 30 Ulman, Gavin                 Kealakehe             19:27.59   28            
 31 Alip, Dayson                 KS Hawaii             19:28.40   29            
 32 Finley, David                KS Hawaii             19:29.37   30            
 33 Brown, River                 Hilo                  19:29.72   31            
 34 Witthans, Bryn               KS Hawaii             19:30.05                 
 35 Yoda, Ryuta                  Hawaii Prep           19:31.10   32            
 36 Matsuda, Daniel              Hawaii Prep           19:37.09   33            
 37 Carvalho, Elijah             Honokaa               19:38.27   34            
 38 Perala, Sean                 Honokaa               19:40.39                 
 39 Anzai, Keisuke               Hawaii Prep           19:42.92                 
 40 Kuperus, Joshua              Makua Lani            19:49.43   35            
 41 Camacho, Matthew             Waiakea               19:53.81   36            
 42 Unknown                                            20:01.95                 
 42 Alviento, Davin              Kea’au                20:02.38   37            
 43 Salboro, Conrad              KS Hawaii             20:04.79                 
 44 Hammond, Malu                KS Hawaii             20:06.63                 
 45 Pacris, Mark                 Waiakea               20:10.93   38            
 46 Witthans, Ryan               KS Hawaii             20:18.84                 
 47 Navarro, Arman               Kea’au                20:23.87   39            
 48 Alterman, Evan               Kealakehe             20:26.41   40            
 49 McCafferty, Jacob            Hawaii Prep           20:27.33                 
 50 Prater, Christopher          Kealakehe             20:27.72   41

HHSAA top 20 boys as seen by Bob Martin of Mile Split

http://hi.milesplit.com/articles/92656-2012-hawaii-high-school-boys-individual-cross-country-rankings 

Boys Cross Country Rankings

Top 20 Boys – Hawaii High School Cross Country 9/18/2012

Compiled by Bob Martin – http://hi.milesplit.com

These rankings are based on XC & track performances in 2011-12, and more so on 2012 XC performances to date, particularly in head-to-head competitions. They’re intended to project where individuals will be at the end of the 2012 cross country season. Comments are encouraged.

Name – School, C/O, City, Island, League

 1. Davis Kaahanui – Kamehameha, 2014, Honolulu, Oahu, ILH

 2. James Pearson – Baldwin, 2013, Wailuku, Maui, MIL

 3. Dylan Martinez – Leilehua, 2013, Wahiawa, Oahu, OIA

 4. Joshua Herr – Kauai HS, 2013, Lihue, Kauai, KIF

 5. Jacques Hebert – Punahou, 2014, Honolulu, Oahu, ILH

 6. Christopher Olverson – Leilehua, 2013, Wahiawa, Oahu, OIA

 7. Charles Akiona – Kamehameha, 2013, Honolulu, Oahu, ILH

 8. Nikolai Scharer – Punahou, 2013, Honolulu, Oahu, ILH

 9. Andrew Langtry – St Joseph, 2013, Hilo, Hawaii, BIIF

10. Corban Kaikkonen – Lahainaluna, 2014, Lahaina, Maui, MIL

11. Mark Inay – Campbell HS, 2013, Honolulu, Oahu, OIA

12. Brent Wakuzawa – Hawaii Baptist, 2013, Honolulu, Oahu, ILH

13. Sebastian Barahal – Punahou, 2015, Honolulu, Oahu, ILH

14. Gordon Kowalkowski – Punahou, 2015, Honolulu, OAHU, ILH

15. Shon Cagungun – Kalaheo, 2013, Honolulu, Oahu, OIA

16. Paul Gregg – Parker, 2013, Waimea, Hawaii, BIIF

17. Harrison Oshiro – Punahou, 2013, Honolulu, Oahu, ILH

18. Cedric Petty – Castle, 2014, Honolulu, Oahu, OIA             

19. Stephen Hunter – Hilo HS, 2014, Hilo, Hawaii, BIIF

20. Ian McQuate – Waiakea HS, 2014, Hilo, Hawaii, BIIF   related link:  https://waynejoseph.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/big-dogs-top-20-in-the-state-boys-cross-country/