The Vulcans’ freshmen-laden cross-country team gets its lone chance to run on Big Island turf Saturday at the UH Hilo Cross Country Invitational at Naniloa Banyan Golf Course.
The course for the women’s race has been expanded to six kilometers, an official distance, and Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade will join the Vuls for an 8:15 a.m. start for with three loops around the course.
The Vulcans, Sharks and Silverswords went head to head to open the season at the Big Wave Invitational, with HPU finishing ahead of the Vulcans, and with Chaminade following.
UHH has run once since then, and coach Jaime Guerpo came away pleased with his team’s improvement, especially that of Annaka Barragan and Olivia Jarvis, who both cracked the 20-minute barrier last week on the mainland.
Between the three schools’ rosters, only three runners are listed as being from Hawaii, including the Vulcans’ Caitlin Kawaiaea (Oahu) and Lily Gavagan (Maui).
The action starts at 7:30, when HPU and Chaminade compete a men’s 8K.
Kinoshita clicks: Senior golfer Jared Kinoshita was named the Pacific West Conference golfer of the week on Thursday after finishing 1-over 217 and placing ninth a day earlier at the Western Washington Invitational.
Including a 3-over three-round showing at the Saint Martin’s Invitational, Kinoshita is averaging 72.67 strokes per round.