Meet Notes

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i women's cross country team opens the 2009 season by competing in the Hawai'i Pacific Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 5. The meet is one of seven regular season competitions for the Rainbow Wahine and one of five local meets UH will compete in the 50th state.

 

The women's 5K race begins at 3:30 p.m. at Kualoa Ranch in Kane'ohe, O'ahu. A “fun run” follows the women's race at 4:00 p.m. while the men's race is slated to begin at 4:45 p.m.

 

The Rainbow Wahine return their top two runners from a year ago - junior Mariana Monasi and senior Tava Tedesco. Both runners were among the team's top finishers in each race last season. Also returning with a year of experience under their belts are sophomore Liisa Cushing, senior Shannon Dresser, senior Samantha Lotnick, and sophomore Gina Nourmohamadian.

  

What: Hawai'i Pacific Invitational 5K

Date: Saturday, Sept. 5

Time: 3:30 p.m.

Where: Kualoa Ranch, O'ahu

 

The Rainbow Wahine participated in seven meets during the 2008 season beginning with the Chaminade Invitational and concluding at the NCAA West Regionals. UH's top performer was sophomore Mariana Monasi, who was the team's individual leader in five of the seven meets. Senior Tava Tedesco was the top finisher in the team's final two competitions at the Western Athletic Conference Championships and NCAA Regionals. The 2008 Rainbow Wahine featured five underclassmen among their main group of runners.

 

Mariana Monasi was the Rainbow Wahine's top runner last season. The Oceanside, Calif., native recorded team-best times in UH's first five races and posted three Top 12 performances (2nd at Chaminade Invitational, 12th at Big Wave Invitational, and 11th at HPU Invitational). Monasi transferred to UH after attending the University of San Diego as a freshman.

 

Hawai'i head coach Carmyn James begins her 10th season at the helm of the women's cross country and track and field programs. Under her tutelage, two runners qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, including Cheryl Smith's first place finish at the 2001 WAC Championships. Assistant coach Althea Belgrave enters her second year with the program after coming from Florida State, where she served as a graduate assistant.A native of St. John, Barbados, Belgrave competed at Idaho for four seasons. She is a three-time Barbadian national 800-meter and 1500-meter champion.