HONOLULU – The Hawai'i women's cross country team opens off the 2026 season when it hosts the annual Big Wave Invitational on Saturday at Kahuku Golf Course.
 
The meet will begin with the men's 5k race at 7:05a.m. then followed by the Rainbow wahine competing in the women's 5k race starting at 7:45 a.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
 

BIG WAVE INVITATIONAL
Date | Time				Saturday, Sept. 5 Men's Race (5k) -- 7:05 a.m. Women's Race (5k) -- 7:45 a.m.
Location				Kahuku, O'ahu -- Kahuku Golf Course
Admission				Free Admission

UH enters its first year in the Mountain West Conference after spending the last 14 years in the Big West, hosting the Big West Cross Country Championships in 2025 at home for the first time since 2016. The Rainbow Wahine return six student-athletes from last season, all of whom competed in last season's conference meet.
 
Hawai'i's top finisher from the Big West Championship meet in 2025 Emilie Kirk Langschwager returns for her senior year after being the top scorer three times for Hawai'i in 2025. Additionally, Zola O'Donnell also returns for her senior season after scoring for Hawai'i in all meets last season, finishing second on the team twice in 2025.
 
Other key returners include Lucy Becker, Harriett Greentree and Kira Moe, all of whom were key scorers for the Rainbow Wahine squad last season. Hawai'i also welcomes four newcomers to the squad, graduate transfers Emilie Barrett, from California and Emily Castles from New York University.
 
Freshmen Atarah Robinson and Cecily (Dvdaya) Swimmer round out the group of newcomers. Swimmer was named North Carolina female athlete of the year in 2026 and Robinson won the Florida 4A state title in the mile as a senior.
 
Following the Big Wave preview the Rainbow Wahine will have a week to prepare before heading off to the UCR invitational in Riverside, Calif. on September 19.

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