KEAAU – The BIIF boys cross-country season followed precisely to form until making its only stop at Keaau High, where it wasn’t a good idea to follow the leader and where strength was necessarily found in numbers.
Any 5K race is only one wrong turn from going awry, and that’s what happened Saturday to Hilo High’s John Marrack, who made a premature left. The sophomore lost his way and a potential first BIIF victory, though he hadn’t lost his humor, and the steamy morning still provided him a win of sorts in his book.
According to the official results, Marrack, Kealakehe’s Alec Ankrum and Hawaii Prep’s Kanoa Blake weren’t even part of the race, not after they veered off course and had their 1-2-3 finish disqualified.
“There were no course marshals, they showed up after,” Marrack said of his errant turn. “I was leading, I saw an open gate and (Ankrum and Blake) took the turn and they followed.”
At one point, the threesome realized there was no going back.
“We went into the upper campus,” Marrack said. “At that point we were like, ‘We went the wrong way. Oh well, let’s keep on going.” ‘
He said Waiakea’s Kederang Ueda, who was running fourth, was about to make the bad turn, but a course marshal showed up and waved him back on course.
Kamehameha’s Carlos Masuko pocketed his first BIIF victory in 17 minutes, 46.84 seconds, with Ueda second.
In the girls race, steady was the way to victory for Hilo High’s Teijah Rosas (21:08.48), who overtook Keaau’s Leilani Stone and Makua Lani’s Tia Lurbiecki.
“When I saw (Tia) in front of me, my speed was consistent and she was slowing down,” Rosas said. “Leilani took the lead (next), than I started creeping up in in front of her and I noticed Leilani wasn’t going as consistent as I was, so i started taking the lead.”
Earlier, Marrack felt he was well on his way to finally beating Ankrum, the defending league champion who, officially, still hasn’t lost a BIIF race since the 2017 BIIF championships.
Unofficially?
“I felt great today,” Marrack said. “The time doesn’t count, but I think the place counts because we both cut course. (Alec) had a rough day, I had a rough day last week (at Makani).”
In contrast, Rosas said she “didn’t feel it” early on, but she matched Kealakehe’s Leann Hamilton (10th on Saturday) with her second victory of the season. Rosas won the season-opener at Christian Liberty, pulling away after Hilo ran as a pack. This time, it seemed like it was every Viking for herself.
“It just happened that way,” said Rosas, who admitted the snafu in the boys race entered her mind. “I was just a little bit scared about the course.”
Perhaps her least favorite course is the only one that really matter this season, the one at Kamehameha, home to the BIIF championships Oct. 26.
“I don’t like it, too muddy, too rocky,” Rosas said.
Next up is a meet Friday at Hawaii Prep, one Rosas’ favorite courses, and after an off week the final BIIF tuneup is Oct. 19 at Waiakea.
Also looking to build momentum is Stone, who used the home-course advantage for her best finish of the season.
“I felt more comfortable here,” she said. “I new this course, we practiced it several times.”
Stone also has two third-place finishes this season, including at Makani, a course conquered by Kealakehe freshman Cozette Wood, who was just behind Lurbiecki in fourth Saturday.
“Anyone can win (at BIIFs),” Stone said. “I’m excited. My ending, my stride, coming down hill, lessening my stride, it can all improve.”