The 2023 Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) cross country season wrapped up Saturday morning in Waimea with the Central Pacific Bank/BIIF Cross Country Championships — sending 47 boys and 44 girls to this weekend’s HHSAA Championship on Oahu.
Waiakea took home the Division I title in the boys and girls race, posting average times of 19:12.66 and 24:29.57, respectively. The Warriors’ Shane Tominaga won the boys individual competition, finishing in 18:17.39. Close behind was teammate Austin Mohica — clocking in just under six seconds behind at 18:23.31.
The Vikings’ boys placed second in DI — scoring 48 points to trail Waiakea’s 21. Hilo’s Nathan Hock placed third by less than a second behind Mohica — 18:23.56.
Isaac Keanaaina from Konawaena was the west side’s top finisher once again — placing fourth overall with a 19:25.21 time.
The remainder of Waiakea’s boys top five were No. 6 Sebastian Ortiz-Bloom (19:28.17), No. 11 Henry Huovinen (19:49.96) and No. 15 Rogelio ‘Ito’ Doratt (20:04.45).
Kealakehe’s girls led their team to a second place finish with 49 points — as Hilo finished third scoring 54.
Nova Stickley led the Waiakea girls with a fourth-place finish in 23:48.62, followed by No. 5 Sri Butz at 24:01.42. Shanay Ha‘a placed No. 7 for Waiakea at 24:17.40, followed by Camila Megargel in ninth place at 24:33.46 and No. 16 Priscilla Mow at 25:46.93.
Kealakehe’s Elisa Childers placed first overall, finishing at 22:32.89. Hilo’s Kekaimalino Halpern was less than four seconds behind Childers, clocking 23:36.42 to place second.
Hawaii Prep won the Division II title in the boys and girls outings, racing average times of 20:17.63 and 24:40.44, respectively. Mickey Petras led Ka Makani boys with a 19:27.99 time and fourth-place finish, while Tiffany Ravaglia earned third in 23:37.64 for the HPA girls.
Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i’s girls placed second in DII, scoring 66.
In the open 5k run, Waiakea won once again in the boys department with an average run time of 21:40.37, with Lenx Neves leading the Warriors with a 20:25.36 time in his first-place finish. On the girls side, HPA won, with Tanner Bromberg leading Ka Makani in 25:57.49 in her first-place individual win.
The official list of the Big Island state qualifiers for Saturday’s state championship race will be published this week. The race will take place at Central O‘ahu Regional Park in Waipahu.