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A Running Start

MHS’s cross country runners gain experience at MIL meet

Seven of the 14 girls from Molokai High School’s (MHS) cross country team traveled to Hana for the season’s third Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Meet on Saturday. Though none of the girls placed, the runners, who were all freshmen, got their first taste at competing in a cross country meet.

“I was proud of them because they gave it their best effort and that’s all I could ask for,” said Coach Eugene Santiago.

They started training five weeks ago, running for about three miles every practice at various locations like Ironwood Golf Course, the track at MHS, the fields at Coffees of Hawaii and along the highway.

Santiago said the biggest challenge this season has been as much mental as it has physical. He said that because many students are freshman, they have limited experience running longer distances, and as such often end up walking.

“We’ve been working on reprogramming their minds so that every time they’re tempted to walk, they’re reminded to try not to and go beyond it,” said Santiago.

At Saturday’s meet, Jennifer Costales Sanchez finished with a time of 31:39, Katelyn Emia with 31:40, Oceana Madani with 32:36, Kori-Lee Dourin with 33:56, Rainbow E. Kee with 37:03, Christine Aquino with 37:05 and Misty Parker with 37:06.

Their next meet will be the Seabury Invitational on Maui on Sept. 29. The boys’ cross country team, coached by Gandharva Ross, will compete at the Westside Invitational at Kapalua, Hawaii Island on Sept. 22.

Santiago would like to thank Kim Svetin for donating two roundtrip ferry tickets so that two additional girls could travel to compete in the meet.

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