KAHUKU, O'ahu – The University of Hawai'i women's cross country team started the 2018 season off on a winning note, capturing the 18th annual Big Wave Invitational for the first time since 2010 Saturday morning at the Kahuku Golf Course. The Rainbow Wahine used a balanced attack, with three of the scoring five finishing in the top 10.

"Overall I was really pleased by the performance of the team today," said head coach Tim Boyce. "We had very encouraging efforts throughout the roster today, for our first meet of the year it was outstanding. It was great for our five seniors to have a team win in their last home cross country meet."

Sophomore Sienna Santiago dazzled, coming down the chute first for the Rainbow Wahine, while recording her highest finish (third) and notching a 5K personal record time of 19:38.  Senior Danielle Girard was not far behind finishing 13 seconds behind Santiago enroute to a sixth place finish (19:51). Rounding out the top 10, redshirt freshman Olivia Hill showcased her full potential, cracking the 20:00 mark, placing eighth (19:59).

Finishing the scoring five for the Rainbow Wahine, Giovanna Casazza and Alison Bowman finished 13th (20:27) and 17th (20:56), respectively.

Also competing for Hawai'i, freshman Hope Stewart was 18th (20:58), junior Tristan Setzer was 19th (21:09), freshman Sierra Delaware was 20th (21:11), freshman A'ja-Faith Greene was 22nd (21:24), junior Teuila Gardner was 23rd (21:07), junior Haley Beaumont was 29th (22:13), and sophomore Jeanalyn Wadsack-Myers was 41st (24:04)

Hawai'i logged 47 overall points earning an average time of 20:10, while second place Pacific, finished 10 points and 13 seconds behind the 2018 Big Wave Invite champs, recording an average time of 20:23 with 57 points.

The Rainbow Wahine will next travel to the mainland to compete in the UC Riverside Invitational in Calif. on September 15.
 

#HawaiiXC