RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine cross country team capped off their first mainland trip of the 2018 season Saturday with a strong team performance at the UC Riverside Invitational, finishing 17^thoverall. 
 
"Very encouraged by how well the team traveled and handled the early (4:30 a.m. HT) race time," said head coach Tim Boyce. "We'll keep improving each week and look to be more and more competitive as the fall progresses." 
 
The Rainbow Wahine were led by senior Danielle Girard, who matched her 6k personal record (PR) time of 22:31.6, finishing 85^thoverall. Sophomore Sienna Santiago remained a bright spot, coming down the chute in 22:55.2, nearly equaling her personal record time from a season ago (22.50.6). Senior Giovanna Casazza finished third for UH and 128^thoverall, crossing the finish line in 23:47.0, just 12 seconds shy of her 6k PR time (23:35.8). 
 
Competing in her first 6k meet of the season, freshman A'ja-Faith Greene showed the biggest breakthrough for the Rainbow Wahine, finishing fourth on the team and 132^ndoverall (23:51.0). Rounding out the scoring five, junior Alison Bowman recorded her fastest 6k race of her career, posting 23:56.0, demolishing her PR by nearly one minute. 
 
Also competing for the Rainbow Wahine, freshmen Olivia Hill was 145^th(24:11.2), Sierra Delaware was 149^th(24:19.2) and Hope Stewart was 150^th(24:20.4).
 
UH finished in 17^thplace, scoring 499 team points with an average time of 23:24 at the UCR Agricultural Operations course.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will next compete at the Capital Cross Challenge on Sept. 15, hosted by Sacramento State with partnership with the Sacramento Running Association.