The first big meet of the cross country season will feature more than 1,000 runners — with possibly more on the way.

The 'Iolani Invitational, which will be held at Wheeler Army Airfield on Saturday morning, will feature intermediate and high school runners from Hawai'i and California. The race will be an early test in the cross country season as Hawai'i runners from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and O'ahu Interscholastic Association get their first opportunity to race against one another. In years past, the race has served as an early indicator of what to expect as the season progresses. All ILH and nearly all OIA schools are in this year's field, along with nearly a dozen California teams.

Add Hawai'i's public middle schools, which have been calling this week looking to enter, expect well over 1,000 runners in six races.

"(We) look forward to showing our runners, especially the freshmen, what it's like to run against fast runners from the Mainland," said 'Iolani senior Tyler Mulloy, one of the team's three captains. "We can see how we shape up as a team and against OIA competition."

Now in its 10th year, the 'Iolani Invitational has never been short on competition — dominated as of late by Mainland schools — and interesting and fun perks.

Though travel costs have turned away some teams, this year's field of California schools include Baldwin Park, Calvary Chapel Moreno Valley, Cerritos, Clovis, Laguna Beach and Notre Dame. Dana Hills is the defending California Division I boys state champion and its girls team was fourth in the state. Back is Rivera Middle School, which came last year.

MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE

A pasta dinner is held at 'Iolani on the evening before the race each year. Competitors get to mingle with each other and the school's halau performs. Alan Webb, the U.S. mile record holder, spoke during the feed two years ago.

"It was cool to see his work ethic, what he has to do and how we can work as hard to become what he has become," said senior Robert Tamai, an 'Iolani captain.

When the race was held at Kualoa Ranch the first eight years, a course that featured grueling hills and pies left behind by farm animals, Mainland teams soaked up the scenery after the race. Last year's race was moved to Ford Island after the meet teamed up with the USO.

"The venue has always been picturesque no matter where we had gone," said 'Iolani boys coach and meet director Jim Rubasch. "Kualoa Ranch with Chinaman's Hat in the background, the Mainland teams would climb up that hill and be hanging out there half an hour after the meet taking pictures, looking at the view. That's a memorable experience for them."

The meet wouldn't be possible without the more than 200 parents who volunteer, from serving food at the pasta dinner to manning the finish line chute to serving as course marshals during the race.

"The parents are more involved," said 'Iolani junior Rory Zia, who will be running in his fifth invitational.

Caren Esaki serves as the personnel coordinator, figuring out where all the manpower goes. Another mom, Beth Mulloy, serves as the liaison between all the parents on the team. There are 114 boys who run for 'Iolani in grades seven through 12, and she's in contact with all of their parents.

"She's helpful; I'm glad she does it," Tyler Mulloy said of his mom's efforts.

BACK IN HAWAI'I

Dana Hills boys coach Tim Butler has been bringing his squad to a Hawai'i race for all but three years since 1980. It's an opportunity to bond, train and experience something culturally different. Getting to surf, isn't bad either.

"The main reason is for the bonding, just for the kids to share the memories, get closer towards each other now," Butler said. "Towards the end of the year, that's when we need that closeness and cohesiveness."

The Hawai'i trip is a fun and low-key way to approach a grueling season, being able to compete without the entire state watching one of its top programs.

The Dana Hills boys team arrived last week and dominated at Saturday's meet held at Ka'a'awa that was won by Tyler Valdes. There have been training runs at Kapi'olani Park, one from Sunset Beach to La'ie and bodysurfing at Makapu'u. The girls team was scheduled to arrive last night. Both coaches are history buffs and the teams will tour the USS Arizona and Wheeler to learn their significance to World War II.

"God willing if we should win a state title, the girls will still look back five, six, seven years from now and might remember the state title, but will remember the Hawai'i meet," said Rex Hall, Dana Hills girls coach.