KANEOHE, Oahu - The University of Hawai'i women's cross country team captured the 2004 Big Wave Invitational, Saturday, at the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course. The host Rainbow Wahine placed four runners in the Top 10, including three in the top five, to finish with 37 total points.

Brigham Young-Hawai`i finished in second with 47 points. BYUH's Chelsea Smith, the reining Division II national champion, captured the individual title, completing the 4K race in a time of 14:37. UH's Dana Buchanan made her season debut by finishing second at 15:18. Fellow sophomores Kelly Young and Chantelle Laan placed fourth and fifth with times of 15:56 and 15:57, respectively.

"It was a great debut for Buchanan and Young," assistant coach Andy McInnis said. "Their job was to hang on to Chelsea and learn how to become a big time cross country runner. They did a great job."

Sophomore Danielle Binns came in eighth (16:08) while sophomore Chelsee Pummel rounded out UH's qualifying team in 18th place (16:38).

"The big one for us was Chantelle," McInnis said. "Her job as team captain was to nurture Chelsee and stay with her and Chelsee's finish was the reason why we won this race. She sacrificed her individual time to bring our other girl into play."

The Seasiders placed three in the Top 10 with Diana Choi (3rd) and Jennifer Fajardo (9th) joining Smith. Houston finished third (93) in the team results, followed by Pomona-Pitzer (102), Occidental (133), Hawai`i-Hilo (139), and Mt. San Antonio (149).

A total of 16 Rainbow Wahine runners competed in the race but only the top five times qualify for the team's point total. Other notable UH runners were Sharlene Carillo (22nd - 16:47), Heather Scott (37th - 17:26), Kristine Smallwood (45th - 17:48), and Jamie Lee Stephens (48th - 17:52).

In the men's race, Houston posted a score of 33 to capture the team title. Sesar Figueroa edged teammate Ty Stanfield to win individual honors. Rounding out the men's results were Pomona-Pitzer (59), Hawai`i-Hilo (96), BYU-Hawai`i (98), Occidental (140), Hawai`i Pacific (148), and Mt. San Antonio (179).

Hawai`i will next split its squad to compete in the Stanford Invitational and BYU-Hawai`i Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 25.

Women's Team (Official)
Women's Individual (Official)
Men's Team (Official)
Men's Individual (Official)

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