Cross Country Season in Review

2023 proved to be a breakthrough season for the Chaminade University men's and women's cross country teams with both enjoying team and individual success throughout the season.
 
When the season began in August, Shadrack Nabea took over the reins as the most senior head coach among the Hawai'i cross country coaches after both the University of Hawai'i Hilo and Hawai'i Pacific University both appointed new leadership in their programs.
 
For the Silverswords women, a pair of newcomers helped them achieve new heights including the team's first trip to the NCAA West Regional in 11 years. The 'Swords also had the lowest score among the Hawai'i teams at the Pacific West Conference Championships in Fresno, California, resulting in capturing the women's cross country title in the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge for the first time in what is currently the eight-year history of the completion between Chaminade, UH Hilo and HPU.
 
The men's team also had a newcomer provide an immediate impact and, combined with a veteran returnee, helped them to a rather successful year.
 
In the opening race of the season at the University of Hawai'i Manoa Big Wave Invitational on Sept. 2 at the Kahuku Golf Course, the 'Swords women was the first among the Division II squads in the team race. Their third-place finish marked the first time since results were being tracked in the mid-2000s that Chaminade finished ahead of HPU, the long dominant team in Hawai'i collegiate cross country over the years.
 
On Sept. 30, the Silverswords finally hoisted a team trophy, capturing the UH Hilo Invitational, marking the team's first team title since winning the 1985 NAIA District 29 championship.
 
There was also immediate individual success at the Big Wave Invitational with newcomer Maria Steinke (Columbus, Ohio/University of Dayton/Bexley HS) posting the fastest time among non-Division I finishers. The junior transfer from Dayton University would go on to post four first-place team finishes including her first career first-place overall finish at the UH Hilo Invitational.
 
Meanwhile, freshman Nikiji Dayse (Memphis, Tenn./Bartlett) also had impactful role with the ladies, earning second-place team finishes four times. She also had a No. 2 overall finish at the UH Hilo race in helping the 'Swords take the top two times at the event.
 
Caitlin Bocobo (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani), the 'Swords' lone senior, wrapped up the final year of her career with several high team finishes highlighted by setting a 6-kilometer personal best time of 25:15.4 at the PacWest Championships.
 
And at the 5-k Chaminade Invitational at Kapiolani Park, Steinke, Dayse, Zoe Lucas (Fremont, Calif./Washington) and Bocobo recorded the four fastest times, respectively, at the course.
 
The year culminated with the team participating in the NCAA West Regional in Monmouth, Oregon, the team's first postseason appearance since 2012.
 
The Silverswords men also saw their share of success, taking a pair of first-place team finishes via default at the UH Hilo and HPU Invitationals when HPU could not field a full team to qualify for a team score. And like the ladies, there were individual successes as well.
 
Freshman Mason Stewart (Uniontown, Pa./Uniontown) became the first men's runner since 2018 to stand on the first-place finisher podium by winning the Chaminade Invitational. He would win his second race three weeks later at the HPU Invitational. Stewart also finished second overall at the UH Hilo Invitational as the 'Swords won the men's title, the first-ever documented program win.
 
Meanwhile senior Owen Daugherty (Cedar Park, Texas/Cedar Park) had a standout year despite injuries which cost him half the season. In each of the three races he participated, he had a pair of fourth-place overall finishes and one in fifth.
 
Another senior, Peter Jan Ramos (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu), wrapped up his career with four second-place team finishes including three in the overall top-five.
 
At the end of the year, the Silverswords men sent Stewart and Ramos to the NCAA West Regional, both participating as individuals.
 
In addition to Daugherty and Ramos, the men's squad bid aloha to two more seniors, Conor McMahon (Pacific, Calif./Archbishop Riordan) and Ben Salinas (Highland, Ind./Western Colorado Univ./Highland HS).