Lady Ka Makani looking to continue BIIF Cross Country Dynasty
The Hawaii Prep girls cross country program doesn’t don Yankee pinstripes, it doesn’t channel Celtic pride and it’s never celebrated their victories with the Lambeau leap. But in its own realm, Ka Makani wahine are every bit as dominant.
Since 1980 the ladies from Hawaii Preparatory Academy have dominated the Big Island Interscholastic Federation cross county winning league titles in 27 of the past 31 years, according to Ka Makani athletic director Stephen Perry.
The BIIF cross country season opens this Saturday with the HPA girls team coming in as heavy favorites to win yet another league championship.
Waiakea (1983 & 1991) and Kamehameha (2005 & 2007) were the only other schools to win BIIF girls team titles and HPA looks on track to continue their cross country dominance.
Ka Makani return four of the varsity seven from last year’s league champions with Zoe Sims, Emily Evans, Kristiana Van Pernis and Mariah Haight leading the way.
Head coach Michael Franklin returns at the helm, but down plays his team’s goal of winning another league title.
“Truly, people don’t believe me when I say this, but winning a championship is not one of our goals,” Franklin said. “Our goals are simple as they come from the basic philosophy that life is more satisfying if one pushes him or herself beyond perceived limits.”
Franklin believes that his harriers need to focus on themselves and their team rather than on trying to win a league championship.
“Focusing on winning a championship would require too much attention on others,” he said. “We really have a team focus.”
Ka Makani girls finished second in the state last season and this year is considered the team to challenge Punahou again for the Hawaii High School Athletic Association title.
“This is the strongest team that I have yet coached at HPA,” Franklin said. “That does not mean that it is the fastest team. It is the strongest because of its unified spirit and unanimous love for the running lifestyle. Whether we win or lose races, this team’s attitude makes it exceptional.”
Gunning for the girl’s title will be the Warriors of Kamehameha as Coach Joel Truesdell return five of his top seven girls.
“This is the first time since we last won the BIIF championship that we return this many varsity starters,” Truesdell said.
Kamehameha returns three girls that were in the top 20 at the BIIF championships last season in Tiana Iwata (12th), Corin Kim (16th) and Erin Carvalho (20th).
“We’ve got some depth on our girl’s squad as we have 8 girls running in the lead pack,” Truesdell said. “Our goals are the same as last year, to get a full team into states.”
Also shooting to get a full team to qualify for the state championship is Hilo’s veteran coach, Bill McMahon.
“Our top two returning girls are Shalila De Bournmont and Carmen Garson-Shumway,” McMahon said. “Our boy’s team are all young, but I do have a good sized group.”
Waiakea’s fastest girl is Kelsie Kobayashi and she will be anchored by Haley Rasse, Vanessa Ignacio, Skye Ombac, and Vandey Okinaka, according to Coach Jordan Rosado.
“We have a large team, with 40 boys and 28 girls,” Rosado said. “I feel we have as good a chance to compete for the boy’s team title as anyone else, since Honokaa lost some of their best runners to graduation.”
Waiakea will be led by Jackson Halford and Keoni Rice with Ian McQuate, Hajime Hiyano and Dyson Sato providing needed support according to Rosado.
Honokaa, returns as the four time defending league champion, but has some holes to fill from last season.
“Chayce Moniz, Clayton Robinson, Pedro Sanches, Robert Conners, Tony Conners, Riston Matias, Koa Phenice, Sean Quinlan, Justin Warren, and Mason Wilkes are our returners,” Coach Joshua Abner said.
Abner lost three of his seven starters from last year, including two time individual BIIF champion Chris Mosch, which leaves the door open for several teams to vie for the team title.
“Every day is an open tryout for us and every one of these boys are hungry,” Abner said.
Last season’s big surprise came from the boys at Parker School as Coach Ceri Whitfield qualified her team for the HHSAA.
“I feel with the hard work these boys put into their training they have as much chance as any of the other schools to come in first,” Whitfield said. “They are very committed and positive about their chances this year as they work very hard.”
Leading the way for the Bulls is Jesse Tarnas who will brings a solid core of runners which includes Jesse Tarnas, Paul Gregg, Tyler McCullough, Jess Burns and Evan Kasberg.
Kamehameha boys coach, Ryan Cabalse, has four returnees that made it to the state championships last season in Shawn Correa-Doll, Kaulana Ho, Colton Hill, and Jonah Knell.
“Our boy’s squad has never qualified as a team for states yet, (five from the same team need to qualify to score as a team) but we are hoping to contend for one of the automatic team slots this season,” Cabalse said.
St. Joseph returns one of the best BIIF runners in Andrew Langtry who is expected to challenge for the individual league crown. Langtry ran in various community races during the off season and was often seen in the top leader board.
Keaau brings 41 boys and 15 girls into competition with returnees Deann Nishimura-Thornton and Natalie Hagemann leading the girls while Jhun-Delle Venture, Davin Alviento, Greg Matias, Arman Navarro and Adrian Martinez headline the boy’s squad, according to Coach Donna Wong Yuen.
Though difficult, we always want to try and qualify a team for states,” Wong Yuen said. “Our goals are to have fun and improve from last year.”
Christian Liberty Academy doesn’t have any girls on their cross country team but will bring 10 boys to the starting line, according to Coach Frank Grotenhuis.
“Caeden Cambra and Keenen Freitas are the two fastest on the team,” Grotenhuis said. “We’re looking at having the boys push hard so that they can achieve their personal best.”
The BIIF harriers get off to a running start on Saturday with Grotenhuis as his CLA family playing host to the Canefire Conditioner starting at 10 am on the Keaau campus.
Kamehameha Invitational Girls x-c results
Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii Campus HY-TEK’s Meet Manager
Kamehameha Hawaii Cross Country Invitational – 9/11/2010 Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Campus Kea’au, HI
1 Grossman, Dakota Seabury Hall 19:15.14
2 Ramirez, Nadia Hilo 20:08.24 1
3 Nicholls, Heidi Hawaii Bapti 20:16.41 2
4 GreenWell, Tialana Honokaa 20:34.09 3
5 Sims, Zoe Hawaii Prep 20:51.87 4
6 Vargas, Kela Hawaii Prep 20:55.08 5
7 De Bournmont, Shalila Hilo 21:14.12 6
8 Garson-Shumway, Carmen Hilo 21:14.40 7
9 Evans, Emily Hawaii Prep 21:16.27 8
10 Uyehara, Aimee Hawaii Bapti 21:16.75 9
11 Kobayashi, Kelsie Waiakea 21:21.90 10
12 Shiraki, Allie Honokaa 21:30.69 11
13 Lawrence, Karina Hilo 21:41.37 12
14 Uyehara, Elise Hawaii Bapti 22:09.91 13
15 Choe, Grace Makua Lani 22:11.86 14
16 Neal, Sam Hawaii Prep 22:22.17 15
17 Okinaka, Vandey Waiakea 22:27.79 16
18 Carvalho, Erin Kamehameha 22:31.15 17
19 Busek, Jessica Waiakea 22:34.34 18
20 Ramirez, Crystal Watsonville 22:37.45
21 Rapoza, Kaylee Hilo 22:41.17 19
22 Nishimura-Thornton, Dean Kea’au 22:42.26 20
23 Kim, Corin Kamehameha 22:44.85 21
24 Takushi, Jamie Hawaii Bapti 22:52.40 22
25 Higashiya, Kori Hawaii Bapti 22:52.96 23
26 Cooke, Raycee Hilo 22:54.14 24
27 Van Pernis, Kristiana Hawaii Prep 23:01.31 25
28 Haight, Mariah Hawaii Prep 23:03.32 26
29 Scully, Hana Hawaii Prep 23:17.02 27
30 Mabuni, Angel Makua Lani 23:27.21 28
31 Iwata, Tiana Kamehameha 23:29.33 29
32 Carlos, Monica Honokaa 23:32.18 30
33 Choe, Joy Makua Lani 23:33.15 31
34 Adona, Hildang Honokaa 23:38.07 32
35 Chan, Sarah Hawaii Bapti 23:40.23 33
36 Pautz, Whitney Hualalai Academy 23:47.43
37 Van Mols, Kari Kealakehe 23:51.72 34
38 Jobes, Marie Parker School 23:52.37
39 Mabuni, Lexi Makua Lani 23:54.45 35
40 Bunch, Jennifer Hawaii Bapti 23:57.77 36
41 Alterman, Allison Kealakehe 24:00.65 37
42 Mitchell, Somer Kealakehe 24:28.77 38
43 Friel, Rebekah Kamehameha 24:33.61 39
44 Ariga, Brithany Kamehameha 24:33.91 40
45 Greenwell, Kelly Honokaa 24:36.82 41
46 Lambert, Meadow Waiakea 24:40.73 42
47 Kerr, Lauren Hilo 24:43.21 43
48 Hagemann, Natalie Kea’au 24:52.54 44
49 Aguilar, Katie Honokaa 24:55.54 45
50 Nakamura, Tiffany Makua Lani 24:57.18 46
51 Cosma, Shani Kea’au 24:59.43 47
52 Mabuni, Lauren Makua Lani 25:05.05 48
53 Martins-Keliihoomanu, Ch Kamehameha 25:12.08 49
54 Ebaniz, Calii Kealakehe 25:13.18 50
55 Kishimoto, Kimberly Honokaa 25:13.96 51
56 Chow, Christina Kea’au 25:58.08 52
57 Bath, Katrina Waiakea 26:01.74 53
58 Fujitake, Megan Kea’au 26:02.64 54
59 Ignacio, Vanessa Waiakea 26:08.19 55
60 Kim, Sara Kamehameha 26:14.49 56
61 Sumaoang, Desiree Kea’au 27:34.60 57
62 Bisel, Bethany Waiakea 27:36.86 58
63 Langevin, Mariko Parker School 27:59.11
64 Ballesteros, Chelsea Kea’au 28:45.88
65 Montenero, Maura Kealakehe 29:33.55 59
Hilo Girls Look Strong Winning BIIF East Side Cross Country
Kea’au High School Hy-Tek’s MEET MANAGER 10:47 AM 9/4/2010 Page 1
BIIF East @ Waiakea – 9/4/2010 Waiakea High School Hilo, HI
Rankings Event 1 Girls 3 Mile Run CC
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Name Year School Finals Points
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1 Ramrez, Nadia Hilo 20:33.37 1
2 Kobayashi, Kelsie Waiakea 21:14.49 2
3 De Bournmont, Shalila Hilo 21:33.55 3
4 Lawrence, Karina Hilo 21:56.05 4
5 Garson-Shumway, Carmen Hilo 22:05.17 5
6 Cooke, Raycee Hilo 22:22.09 6
7 Kim, Corin Kamehameha 22:23.28 7
8 Nishimura-Thornton, Dean Kea’au 22:30.28 8
9 Carvalho, Erin Kamehameha 22:30.92 9
10 Busek, Jessica Waiakea 23:04.59 10
11 Rasse, Haley Waiakea 23:11.24 11
12 Rapoza, Kaylee Hilo 23:12.18 12
13 Paulachak, Kara Waiakea 24:04.42 13
14 Friel, Rebekah Kamehameha 24:18.51 14
15 Martins-Keliihoomanu, Ch Kamehameha 24:19.58 15
16 Iwata, Tiana Kamehameha 24:20.14 16
17 Hagemann, Natalie Kea’au 24:23.67 17
18 Chow, Christina Kea’au 24:40.80 18
19 Takato, Mikiko Hilo 24:45.02 19
20 Shiroma, Kayla Waiakea 24:45.39 20
21 Ariga, Brithany Kamehameha 25:00.08 21
22 Okinaka, Vandey Waiakea 25:07.81 22
23 Kim, Sara Kamehameha 25:11.40 23
24 Cosma, Shani Kea’au 25:12.42 24
25 Ignacio, Vanessa Waiakea 25:12.95 25
26 Kerr, Lauren Hilo 25:19.64
27 Bath, Katrina Waiakea 25:20.73
28 Chambless, Kadey Hilo 25:21.23
29 Delacruz, Bree Hilo 25:21.70
30 Lambert, Meadow Waiakea 25:32.07
31 Fujitake, Megan Kea’au 25:37.48 26
32 Pacheco, Tiffany Kamehameha 25:42.62
33 Jones, Tehani Kamehameha 25:43.24
34 Pitoy, Shea Hilo 25:59.58
35 Belcher, Carly Waiakea 26:00.07
36 Naipo-Arsiga, Namele Kamehameha 26:05.71
37 Swain, Karley Waiakea 26:27.80
38 Grothmann, Kala`i Kamehameha 26:33.03
39 Lerma, Amanda Kamehameha 26:33.51
40 McGuire, Alyssa Kamehameha 26:34.87
41 Bisel, Bethany Waiakea 26:49.80
42 Mandaguit-Arakaki, Saydi Kamehameha 26:52.34
43 Silva, Kanani Waiakea 26:52.76
44 Ombac, Skye Waiakea 27:03.98
45 Dawers, Stephanie Hilo 27:04.88
46 Duvoisin, Sara Kamehameha 27:17.35
47 Pohina, Noelle Kamehameha 27:18.59
48 Taganas, Mahealani Kamehameha 27:30.20
49 Kekauoha, Esther Kamehameha 27:31.99
50 Sumaoang, Desiree Kea’au 27:38.84 27
51 Silva-Fujitake, Keao Waiakea 27:53.93
TEAM SCORING:
1 Hilo 19 2 Waiakea 56 3 Kamehameha – Hawaii 61 4 Kea’au 93