Posted on: Friday, September 13, 2002
No run away favorite in state cross country
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Todd Iacovelli is gone, off running for the University of Michigan.
Christal Cuadra is gone, too, covering ground at San Diego State.
That means first-place ribbons in Hawai'i high school cross country now are totally up for grabs.
State champions Iacovelli, a Punahou graduate, and Cuadra (Maryknoll) dominated the scene last year, winning every race against local competition usually by large margins. Their departure supposedly translates into wide-open races this season, which starts with preseason meets tomorrow on Maui and at the Waipi'o Soccer Complex.
"I think it'll add a lot of excitement, because anyone can win on any given Saturday," said Iolani girls coach Greg Char. "I know it's given our team more incentive, because now anyone can be a state champ. They've worked harder this summer. I think it's good for the sport."
The girls side especially is a guessing game since last year's state runner-up, Tia Ferguson of Seabury Hall, transferred to a California school. That leaves Iolani sophomore Nicole Anderson as the top returning finisher (third) from last year's state meet.
Other top returnees are Kamehameha junior Jessica Domingo (fourth), Lahainaluna senior Caitlin McDonald (sixth), Farrington senior Euvelyn Calma (seventh), Iolani sophomore Christi Morrissey (eighth), King Kekaulike senior Chandi Bickford (ninth) and McKinley senior Sheena Thain (10th).
Although there are no Punahou runners mentioned in that group, the Buffanblu are considered to be one of the top teams in the state, given the return of four harriers who finished in last year's top 25 — seniors Rachel White (12th), Laura Melahn (19th) and Carly Killam (22nd) and sophomore Katie Craigie (25th).
In addition, Punahou returns senior Pippa Macdonald, who finished 38th last year but was the state runner-up as a freshman.
"She's the X-factor," Char said. "The rest of the girls will score points, but she has a good chance at the state championship."
Duncan Macdonald, Pippa's father and coach, said she is running healthy and strong so far.
"She was injured two years ago, and last year she was under the weather a lot," Duncan said. "It took her a long time to come back."
Defending state champion Iolani lost some leadership when Kristin Shinkawa (fifth), Jenna Ishii (56th) and Lauran Dignam (71st) graduated, but the Raiders return four of their top five runners from last year.
"I think they're still the favorite," Duncan Macdonald said.
A dark horse could be King Kekaulike, which returns Bickford and sophomore Emalia Suehiro (11th).
Kamehameha coach Joel Truesdell said Domingo is running "at least equal to or better to what she did last year." She will be complemented by three younger runners who excelled at the intermediate level.
Freshman Maya Coelho was last year's intermediate champion in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, and fellow freshman Danna Friedemann took third. Sophomore Haunani Kane was the ILH's intermediate track champion in the 800- and 1500-meter runs, and was fourth in the 3000.
Kamehameha's boys team, meanwhile, will try to win its sixth straight state championship with two seniors who finished in the top eight at the 2001 state meet. J.B. Bolson finished fourth and Sam Wescoatt was eighth.
"The talent is there, but we're not long on big-meet experience," Warriors coach Steve Jenness said. "And we've never been fast starters."
Still, Jenness said he likes Kamehameha's chances for another title.
"That's the goal of ours, and the team looks good," Jenness said. "(Bolson and Wescoatt) are definitely better than last year, and there's some good ones that came up who are running really well. We expect them to be better, too."
Punahou, which finished second last year, returns seniors Satoshi Mitsuda (ninth last year) and Kevin Lenahan (34th).
In addition to Bolson and Wescoatt, other runners expected to challenge for the individual crown include Iolani senior Patrick Morrissey and Maui sophomore Nick Jachowski.
Morrissey finished fifth in last year's state meet, and Jachowski, the first freshman to win the Maui Interscholastic League championship, finished 40th after battling some injuries.
"Patrick always gives everything he has, so he'll definitely be right in there," Jenness said. "And Nick was very impressive as a freshman. He's capable of being a threat. But there's always other people who are going to improve from last year. There's no clearly dominant runner."
That is why, despite being the five-time defending state champ, Kamehameha is taking nothing for granted.
"Every year is really different, and this year should be quite a challenge," Jenness said. "We'll just do what we always do, and try to focus on ourselves."
