Big Island harriers put best foot forward

For the second year, Sunrise Athletics sent Big Island runners to compete at the Foot Locker West Regional cross country championships in California.

The event attracted over 1,000 runners, including top-caliber athletes in several divisions.

“Running with that level reinforces that there is more competition than what I find in Hawaii, and there is more to shoot for than being the top in the state.” said Waiakea’s Ian McQuate, who covered the 5 kilometers in 17 minutes, 46 seconds.

Club teammate Kaylee Rapoza (24:21) of Hilo High, who will be running for the University of Hawaii at Hilo in the fall, felt the course was comparable to Hawaii Prep’s challenging hills in Waimea.

“It was important to experience that level of competition because it puts things in perspective, and I know how much harder I have to work,” she said.

Other Big Island athletes who ran for he club — founded by MJ and Lance Tominaga — were St. Joseph’s Andrew Langtry (18:27); Hilo’s Carmen Garson-Shumway (21:11), Stephen Hunter (18:25) and Max Panoff (20:16); and Waiakea’s Vandey Okinaka (25:19) and Dyson Sato (20:17).

Submitted by Mary Jane Tominaga