2004 Girls Cross Country Preview
Posted September 2, 2004
By Gregory Char
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| PRE-SEASON
RANKINGS - TEAMS |
| TOP
9 TEAMS BASED ON TOTAL TEAM TIME OF TOP
FOUR RETURNING 2003 HHSAA STATE MEET
RUNNERS (time in parentheses) |
| 1. Iolani
(52:45) - returns 6 of 7 runners.
The three-time defending champions are
an experienced and Senior-laden team.
However, they could be hard pressed to
4-peat due to the loss of their #4, and
with numerous teams equally talented.
They are led by Seniors Nicole Anderson
and Joleen Oshiro. |
| 2. Punahou
(54:22) - returns 5 out of 7
runners. The Buff 'n Blue seek to return
to the top of the podium with four
returning runners, all ranked in the
pre-season top 20. They, too, are an
experienced squad. They are led by
Senior Katie Cragie. |
| 3. Moanalua
(54:55) - returns 4 out of 7
runners. Senior Emily King will try to
lead her team to its first ever State
title. The loss of exchange student
Elizabeth Ertl hurts, but the Menehunes
have excellent returning runners and
depth in the JV ranks. |
| 4. Hawaii
Prep (55:21) - returns 4 out of 7
runners. Young squad led by Sophomore
Keri Ogden and Junior Tanya Lewis has
been the perennial powerhouse on the Big
Island. A quality 5th runner and
experience could enable Ka Makani to
battle the top teams for a State
Championship. |
| 5. Baldwin
(55:32) - returns all 7 runners. The
Bears are led by Senior Marie
Janiszewski, who seeks to win her first
M.I.L. title with the departure of
Ferguson. The rest of her teammates are
a talented bunch who should improve
dramatically to help defend their M.I.L.
title and possibly contend for the HHSAA
title. |
| 6. Kamehameha
(56:03) - returns 5 of 7 runners.
The Warriors had a tough 2003 state
meet, but look for them to bounce back
and up the rankings after the first few
meets. Junior Alyssa Chun is their top
returning runner, and they have two
excellent former Intermediates runners
to add to their already deep team. |
| 7. Pearl
City (57:26) - returns 5 out of 7
runners. Senior Chimene Sienkiewicz will
lead a team that will be competitive
despite losing its #1 runner. The
nucleus of the team remains intact and
the Chargers should be near the top by
the end of the season. |
| 8. Kaiser
(58:05) - returns 5 out of 7
runners. The Cougars are an up-and-
coming team that made great gains last
year. Look for continued improvement and
a possible challenge for the OIA crown.
Thay are led by Senior Sonia Ribao. |
| 9. King
Kekaulike (58:06) - returns all 7
runners. Sophomore Alexa Loney is the
top returning runner for a school that
is used to being near the top of the
M.I.L. With everyone back and a year
older, Na Alii could give Baldwin a
challenge. |
| Teams to watch
for: Seabury Hall, Mililani, Castle |
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| PRE-SEASON
RANKINGS - INDIVIDUAL |
| TOP
20 INDIVIDUAL RETURNING RUNNERS FROM THE
2003 STATE MEET (Year in school in
parentheses) |
| 1. Emily
King (12) - Moanalua |
| 2. Nicole
Anderson (12) - Iolani |
| 3. Lauren
Ho (11) - Hawaii Baptist |
| 4. Joleen
Oshiro (12) - Iolani |
| 5. Katie
Cragie (12) - Punahou |
| 6. Keri
Ogden (10) - Hawaii Prep |
| 7. Megan
Chock (11) - Iolani |
| 8. Alyssa
Chun (11) - Kamehameha-Oahu |
| 9. Tanya
Lewis (11) - Hawaii Prep |
| 10. Chimene
Sienkiewicz (12) - Pearl City |
| 11. Sara
Mitman (11) - Mililani |
| 12. Maya
Coelho (11) - Kamehameha-Oahu |
| 13. Fran
Weems (12) - Kealakehe |
| 14. Marie
Janiszewski (12) - Baldwin |
| 15. Caitlin
Killam (12) - Punahou |
| 16. Piper
Marshall (11) - Punahou |
| 17. Anne
Yoshizawa (11) - Baldwin |
| 18. Kelli
Murata (11) - Moanalua |
| 19. Becky
Mangrobang (11) - St. Francis |
| 20. Liat
Portner (12) - Punahou |
Freshmen to watch
for:
Melissa Kawana - Mililani
Emma Broderick - Kamehameha-Oahu
Dara Padaguan - Kamehameha-Oahu |
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The 2004 cross country season for girls will once again be
fun and exciting.
The end of the 2003 season saw the Iolani girls win their 3rd
consecutive HHSAA championship with all underclassmen and one
would think they would be the heavy favorite for 2004.
Not so fast! Things can happen in a year.
Iolani's #4 runner is out with a knee injury suffered in a
Spring soccer game, leaving the Raiders vulnerable. Punahou (3rd
in the state in 2003) returns its top four runners, all of whom
finished in the HHSAA top 30 in 2003, and with its large team
should have no problem finding a quality 5th runner.
Kamehameha-Oahu (2nd in 2003) graduated two dynamic Seniors
including its #1 runner, but has proven incoming freshmen plus a
ton of depth.
These three teams will battle it out all season for I.L.H.
bragging rights.
Hawaii Preparatory (6th in 2003) returns its top three, has
an excellent 1-2 punch and always turns out runners to fill its
needs. Ka Makani will be heavily favored to repeat as B.I.I.F.
Champions.
Waiakea (11th in 2003) was hit hard by graduation, but has a
large enough team to remain competitive.
Kamehameha-Big Island is in its 3rd year of competition and
may surprise people with a new coach, who previously led the
Kamehameha-Oahu squad.
The M.I.L. could be up for grabs. Defending champion Baldwin
(7th in the HHSAA in 2003) returns its whole squad, but will be
hard pressed by King Kekaulike (12th in 2003), which also
returns its top seven runners. Seabury Hall (9th in 2003) will
miss 2003 individual champion Tia Ferguson, but the returning
runners have been training hard all summer, and Seabury Hall has
picked up some new quality runners, and could give Baldwin a run
for its money.
The O.I.A. may have a new #1 this year. Defending champion
Mililani (5th in the HHSAA in 2003) was devastated by
graduation, but the Trojans do return their #1 runner, have an
excellent incoming Freshmen, and always have the numbers to give
them depth. Don't count them out.
Moanalua (4th in 2003) had an excellent 2003 campaign with
all underclassmen on its State team. However, the Menehune' #2
runner was an exchange student who went back home, leaving them
a bit weaker.
They do return their #1 runner, who was HHSAA runner-up last
year and she could lead them to their first O.I.A. crown. Pearl
City (8th in 2003) graduated its top runner, but returns five
and should be in the mix. Kaiser (10th in 2003) also returns
five State runners including its top three, making then a threat
for the O.I.A. title, too.
With the graduation of Tia Fergsuson (now at Duke) there will
be a new individual champion in 2004. Emily King (Moanalua) is
the early favorite off her 2nd place showing in 2003 with a time
that was sixteen seconds faster than the 3rd finisher Nicole
Anderson (Iolani).
Anderson was State Champion in 2002 and is hungry to return
to the top. She will battle Lauren Ho (Hawaii Baptist Academy
and 4th in 2003) for I.L.H. bragging rights and the two of them
will battle King for the State crown.
The top returning runner from Maui is Marie Janiszewski
(Baldwin), and from the Big Island is Keri Ogden (Hawaii
Preparatory Academy).
One of the most exciting parts of the cross country season
are the early meets to see what has transpired since the end of
the previous season. Who has been training over the summer? Who
has quality new runners either as Freshmen or transfers? Which
returning girls stepped up their training? All of these
questions will be answered in the few weeks leading to the next
inevitable question: who will be #1?
(Unfortunately, we were not able to obtain information about
Kauai teams)
Top Meets involving teams from multiple Leagues:
Sept. 11 = O.I.A. Invitational at Central Oahu
Regional Park
Sept. 18 = Iolani Invitational at Kualoa Ranch
Sept. 25 = Kaiser Invitational at Koko Head Park
Oct. 9 = Punahou Invitational at Central Oahu Regional
Park
Oct. 9 = Meet at Hawaii Prep, site of the 2004 H.H.S.A.A.
Championships on November 12
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