Every Monday, GoSwords.com will publish "This Week in 'Swords History presented by Big City Diner" which looks back at significant events and some of the memorable games that helped shape Chaminade University Athletics into what it is today.
October 10, 1998: Women's Cross Country with Near Upset at UH Hilo
The University of Hawai'i Hilo dominated the local women's cross country scene during the early portions of the 1998 season, defeating each of the local Division II schools by double-digits in the first three meets. But in the fourth race, the Silverswords literally gave the Vulcans a run for their money on their own turf.
At the five-kilometer UH Hilo Invitational on Oct. 10, the Silverswords nearly pulled off a stunning upset. Placing three of the top six finishers with
Monique Mata (third),
Ren Oshiro (fourth) and
Kauanoe Kaneshiro (sixth) the 'Swords were tied with Hawai'i Pacific University at 13 points each while UH Hilo had 22 points after the top 10 finishers crossed the finish line.
Jade Robles' 15th-place finish put the 'Swords just one point behind HPU for second place. It was
Marcy Hidano's 20th-place finish by nearly a minute over the 21st-place finisher which secured a second-place tie with the Sea Warriors with 48 points. But UH Hilo managed to get 11 and 13 points to win their own race by a slim margin with 46 points.
The near-upset proved to be the closest the Vulcans came to dropping a team race the rest of the year.
