Girls Cross Country: Final Update
By Greg Char
Iolani girls coach
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GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
END OF-OCTOBER RANKINGS
| 1. Kamehameha-Oahu — The Warriors have looked
excellent the last month, going undefeated and soundly
beating the top teams at a meet at Hawaii Prep. The
Warriors' depth and consistency make them almost
unbeatable. They are the favorites to win their first
ever HHSAA title, and their toughest decision may be
which seven runners to put on the State team! Their
ability to run as a pack is the key to this squad.
Senior Haunani Kane and Freshman Emma
Broderick lead the team. Juniors Alyssa Chun
and Maya Coelho finished 13th and 20th,
respectively, in the 2003 HHSAA State meet. |
| 2. Baldwin — The Bears successfully defended
their MIL Championship, winning by 18 points even though
several runners had "off" days. They, too,
have depth and are serious contenders for the State
title. Sophomore Maris Van Der Lee has taken over
top honors with Nikki Russel close behind. The
status of senior leader Marie Janiszewski may be
the key as she has been unable to run the past few
meets. Freshman Brittany Feiteira has been
improving by leaps and bounds and is the sleeper on this
young and talented squad. |
3. Hawaii Prep — Sophomore Keri Ogden
(9th in the 2003 HHSAA meet) continues to dominate races
on the Big Island as she seeks to repeat as BIIF
Champion. However, teammate Lucy Pollard has
closed the gap and the two have formed an awesome 1-2
punch. HPA is the heavy favorite to defend its league
title.
Tanya Lewis and Sasha Larsen-Helbing give
Ka Makani quality depth and the emergence of a fifth
runner will have them contending for an HHSAA State
championship. |
| 4. Iolani — The early season favorites have
struggled with consistency and have given way to teams
that beat them soundly at Hawaii Prep on October 9. The
Raiders continue to be led by seniors Nicole Anderson
(3rd at the 2003 HHSAA meet) and Joleen Oshiro
(6th at 2003 HHSAA meet). Juniors Megan Chock
(11th at 2003 HHSAA meet), Susan Mukai and Nicole
Leong have experience, but will need to make up
ground to catch the top three. |
| 5. Punahou — Marisa Schoen has been an
outstanding addition to a talented Buff 'n Blue squad
that could surprise everyone. She leads a pair of
youngsters (Chelsea Oda and Chelsea Deptula)
which combined with their outstanding returning runners
have created a formidable team. Seniors Katie Cragie
(8th at 2003 HHSAA meet) and Caitlin Killam are
the returning team leaders. |
| 6. Mililani — The Trojans have an excellent
trio in Sara Mitman (19th at 2003 HHSAA meet), Michelle
Lee, and freshmen standout Melissa Kawana.
Mitman won the OIA Western Division meet. They finished
second as a team in that meet, but with junior varsity
runners moving up, they will be in fabulous position to
defend their OIA title. |
| 7. Kaiser — Sophomore Lei-Aloha Bratton finished
second in the OIA Eastern Division meet, leading her
squad to the team title. The Cougars are a young team
that keeps improving and they will challenge for the OIA
title. Senior Sonia Ribao is their leader while Leilani
Itano has emerged as their Number 2 runner. |
| 8. Pearl City — Anne Ochiae and Cherae
Pascua have been running great all season and they
led their team to a team title at the OIA Western
Division meet. Continued improvement and the return to
form by their senior leader Chimene Sienkiewicz
(16th in 2003 HHSAA State meet) will have them
contending for the OIA championship, too. |
| 9. King Kekaulike — Senior Emaila Suehiro
finished second in the MIL championship race and has her
team finally running to its potential. Na Alii are an
experienced squad as they returned their entire 2003
State team. Don't be surprised if they finish higher at
HPA. |
| 10. Seabury Hall — MIL champion Brittany
Young, a sophomore, will lead her team on the Big
Island. If she is near the leaders and with capable
teammates, this team could also move up in the overall
standings. |
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TOP 30 INDIVIDUAL RUNNERS
(Year in school in parentheses)
| 1. Lauren Ho (11) - Hawaii Baptist |
| 2. Nicole Anderson (12) - Iolani |
| 3. Keri Ogden (10) - Hawaii Prep |
| 4. Lucy Pollard (11) - Hawaii Prep |
| 5. Joleen Oshiro (12) - Iolani |
| 6. Sara Mitman (11) - Mililani |
| 7. Brittany Young (10) - Seabury Hall |
| 8. Maris Van Der Lee (10) - Baldwin |
| 9. Haunani Kane (12) - Kamehameha-Oahu |
| 10. Becky Mangrobang (11) - Saint Francis |
| 11. Marissa Schoen (10) - Punahou |
| 12. Emma Broderick (9) - Kamehameha-Oahu |
| 13. Kira Chong Tim (11) - Kamehameha-Oahu |
| 14. Alyssa Chun (11) - Kamehameha-Oahu |
| 15. Maya Coelho (11) - Kamehameha-Oahu |
| 16. Nikki Russell (11) - Baldwin |
| 17. Tanya Lewis (11) - Hawaii Prep |
| 18. Sasha Larsen-Helbing (12) - Hawaii Prep |
| 19. Susan Mukai (11) - Iolani |
| 20. Shauna Zane (12) - St. Andrew's |
| 21. Danna Friedemann (11) - Kamehameha-Oahu |
| 22. Emalia Suehiro (12) - King Kekalulike |
| 23. Anne Yoshizawa (12) - Baldwin |
| 24. Anzen Salvador - Campbell |
| 25. Chelsea Oda (9) - Punahou |
| 26. Ann Miranda (12) - Castle |
| 27. Lei-Aloha Bratton (10) - Kaiser |
| 28. Sachi Lopez - McKinley |
| 29. Caitlin Killam (12) - Punahou |
| 30. Piper Marshall (11) - Punahou |
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The 2004 Girls Cross Country season in Hawaii will come to an exciting finish
in the next two weekends.
Four league champions will be crowned as well as a State champion (the M.I.L.
already had its league championship and Baldwin easily defended its title)
Dramatic changes have occurred since the last report, and the biggest is that
Kamehameha-Oahu has emerged as the front runner to win it all.
Baldwin is a legitimate threat to win, too, with Hawaii Prep, Iolani and
Punahou just a bit behind the front two.
Preview at Kamuela
A mid-season showdown among the top four took place on October 9 on the Big
Island at Hawaii Prep (HPA) in Kamuela, which will be the site of the HHSAA
State Championship meet on November 12.
It was an excellent opportunity for a preview as the top teams usually don't
compete in the same race until the State meet since they are from different
islands.
Kamehameha-Oahu emerged as a clear favorite.
The Warriors showed their strength and depth by placing five of their runners
in the top 14. And they only ran five runners! The rest of their squad ran in
the Open/JV race and those girls placed 2nd thru 6th.
Baldwin also had an excellent showing, finishing eight points behind
Kamehameha-Oahu.
And Hawaii Prep's Ka Makani, running on their home course, made a strong
statement that they, too, will challenge for the State title.
Iolani had a tough day on the grueling Kamuela course, but don't count them
out as they are the three time defending champions. Punahou was absent from the
HPA meet as it hosted its own invitational on Oahu on the same day, but the Buff
'n Blue are not to be overlooked as they are a talented squad as well.
League races
The League Championships will have two nail biters and a blow out.
Hawaii Prep should have no problem defending its Big Island Interscholastic
Federation (BIIF) title while the OIA and ILH championships could be ones for
the ages.
Can the ever improving, young Lady Cougars from Kaiser upset the defending
champions and perennial powerhouse Lady Trojans from Mililani in the OIA?
Can Kamehameha-Oahu hold off defending champion Iolani and rising Punahou in
the ILH?
No predictions here, so you'll have to see for yourself on November 6. You
may find the top teams separated by fewer than 10 points, or there may even be a
tie resulting in a sixth runner-showdown (using the finishes of the sixth
runners for each team, who usually do not count in scoring).
The races could be that close.
At the HHSAA state Championship, if Kamehameha does not run away with its
first-ever title, then it should be a hotly contested competition with just a
few points separating the top five teams.
The team title will be won or lost in the pack of runners after the top few
front runners. There are so many girls in the pack that positioning will be
critical.
In fact, the girls in this group have been moving up and down in rankings all
season. making it tough to predict how they may finish.
However, the Kamehameha pack has been the most consistent and that is why
they are the favorites.
If any of the other teams can get their runners to "fire" together
in the HHSAA championship race, they could challenge the Warriors for the top
spot.
Individual honors
The individual title looks to be a two person race.
Lauren Ho (Hawaii Baptist Academy) is the favorite as she has been
running away from her competition all season and is undefeated.
Nicole Anderson (Iolani) is the closest pursuer and will not let Ho
win easily. The outstanding Hawaii Prep duo of Keri Ogden and Lucy
Pollard showed their talent and toughness when they finished relatively
close to Ho and Anderson at the October 9 HPA meet.
Joleen Oshiro (Iolani) closes out a very strong top five in the state.
After Oshiro comes the aforementioned pack, which will determine the team
champions.
The HHSAA State Championships will be held on November 12 on the Big Island
on the Hawaii Prep campus in Kamuela and it will either be a coming-out party
for the Lady Warriors of Kamehameha or perhaps one of the closest finishes ever.
Either way, you won't want to miss it!
(Unfortunately, we were not able to obtain information about Kauai teams)