Women's 5K Results | Men's 5K Results | Photo Gallery |
KAHUKU, O'ahu–The University of Hawai'i women's cross country team improved two positions over last year's opener, coming in second on Saturday morning in the season-opening 15th Annual Big Wave Invitational, run for the first time at the Kahuku Golf Course.
 
The Rainbow Wahine registered a score of 35 total points in the eight-team field—comprised of Alaska-Anchorage, Brigham Young-Hawai'i, Chaminade, George Fox, UH-Hilo, Hawai'i Pacific, Pacific and host Hawai'i—in the women's 5K race. For the second consecutive year, UAA captured the team title with 26 points, notching three runners in the top five, including the top two overall performers.
 
UAA's Caroline Kurgat earned the individual women's title with a time 17:46.87, followed shortly by teammate Joyce Chelimo at 17:49.43. UAA also claimed victory in the men's 5k race with a perfect score of 15 for the second-straight year, sweeping the top five and recording seven runners in the top 10, led by top finisher Edwin Kangogo at 15:41.15.
 
With the Rainbow Wahine coming in behind the Seawolves in the women's race, UH pushed ahead of Pacific (97) in third and BYUH (116) in fourth, followed by Hawa'i Pacifice (121), George Fox (166), UH-Hilo (203) and Chaminade (234).
 
The Rainbow Wahine registered four runners in the top 10 to boost their ranking this season. Despite returning last year's every-meet leader in sophomore Montana Martinez, new faces rose to the occasion in Kahuku, as the Rainbow Wahine were paced by freshman Camille Campos (Bakersfield, Calif.), finishing third with a time of 18:31.05.
 
"It makes me feel really excited," Campos said. "I've really been putting in the work and we've had some good workouts. I definitely feels good to see the work payoff and the team run so well."
 
Following in fifth was classmate Piper McDonald (Bend, Ore.) with a time of 19:04.67. Martinez was the third finisher for UH, just steps behind McDonald in sixth place at (19:06.09). Rounding out the scorers for UH were newcomers Alli Cross (Jr., Tualatin, Ore.) in eighth at 19:11.02 and Sabrina Sterbis (Fr., Missoula, Mont.) in 13th at 19:34.03.
 
UH non-cross country track runner Louise Mulvey competed unattached, finishing ninth in 19:20.54.
 
Also competing for the Rainbow Wahine were freshman Haley Beaumont (19:40.66), junior Caitlyn Foss (20:00.66), freshman Tristan Setzer (20:19.67), freshman Gio Casazza (20:55.51), freshman Alison Bowman (22:02.72), freshman Paige Sullivan (23:06.33) and junior Emily Stack (24:34.73).

"We're ecstatic with how everybody ran in their first meet," cross country coach Tim Boyce said. "We couldn't have asked for much more on this day, with a few women held back by little health issues. For us to come out and do well against all the local teams and visitors from the mainland, it's really cool. We really exceeded my expectations today in this first competition."
 
The Rainbow Wahine will take their lessons earned from week one at Kahuku and return to the same course next Saturday, Sept. 12, for the Hawai'i Pacific Invitational.