Runners Qualify for States

Photo by Kimberly Svetin

Five Molokai runners are headed to the state championships after the Molokai Boys and Girls Cross Country teams ran in the MIL Cross Country Championships last Saturday at Seabury Hall.

Senior Alex Mawae finished in 20th place with a time of 18:50.24, sophomore Namaka Ross finished in 24th with a time of 19:16.92 and junior Kamalu Kaawa-Richardson was 29th with a time of 19:58.23 and all three qualified for states. For the girls, freshman Kailani Bicoy qualified in 20th place with a time of 23:21.80. Leilyn McComas, another freshman, missed qualifying by one spot in 35th with a time of 25:20.29 and will be an alternate at states this Saturday at Seabury Hall. The Spartans are hosting the 2019 Honolulu Marathon Cross Country Championships on Nov. 2.

Girls head coach Kabbie Bicoy-Juario was happy with her runners.

“Congratulations Kailani Bicoy for making top 34 in 20th place and Leilyn McComas in 35th place and the first alternate to states,” she said. “It was very exciting for our freshmen to be representing our Molokai Farmers and our team did excellent with senior Keeya Bicoy just missing it by a few runners. These girls ran their very best times and it was a good season for all of our runners.”

Boys Head Coach Mahina Hou Ross had his boys ready for the big race.

“Our boys ran their best race of the season,” he said. “We have a young team with only one senior and one junior who both made states along with our top 10th grader. Now the state championships this week for our three qualifiers and it was another successful season with one more race to go.”

The other runners for the girls were seniors Skylar Kuahuia and Alana Morris and sophomores Mallory Go and Kaua Helm. For the boys, there were sophomores Ashton Greenleaf, Kama Ward and Owen Svetin and freshman Akili Pule-Albino.