All Runners, One Shooter Qualify for States

Photo courtesy of Kabbie Bicoy-Juario.

By Rick Schonely, Sports Reporter

All Molokai runners of the MHS Cross Country team will advance to States after top results in last weekend’s Maui Interscholastic Championships at Baldwin High. Namakaokaaina Ross brought home third place at the championship run with a time of 18:52.7, while on the women’s side, Kailani Bicoy placed sixth with 24:20.1. Jericho Adolpho came in 13th followed by Johnson Harris in 32nd place, and Tenley Akutagawa came in 38th in the women’s race. 

“Wow, what a race, season just not over yet for the Girls XC team,” said Girls Cross Country Coach Kabbie Bicoy-Juario, adding sophomores Bicoy and Akutagawa both ran their fastest times of the season. “We are super proud and amazed that our girls not only got better in one week time but worked as a team helping and encouraged each other to reach their personal goals. We been practicing early mornings before school and they kept that same momentum for MILs.  One more week to go ladies, will be racing at HPA in Waimea this Saturday, Dec. 4. Good job to the Boys and Girls XC teams.”

The Air Riflery team also competed in the sport’s MIL Championships last weekend. Overall, the girls’ team came in ninth place, with Noeau Lenwai was 16th overall in the individual competition. The Molokai boys came in 16th place, with Kyden Sasada was 25th overall in the individual competition. Other shooters on the girl’s side were Raven Morris, Kuulei Simon and Kekai Maikui, while Kyden was joined on the boy’s team by brother Jaden Sasada. 

Kyden Sasada is Molokai’s only shooter to qualify for States in Air Riflery, which will take place on Dec. 7 at the Blaisdell Center.