HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's and women's cross country teams get their seasons underway on Saturday when they venture to the North Shore for the University of Hawai'i Big Wave Invitational at Kahuku Golf Course.
First race begins at 7 a.m. Both events are scheduled for 5-kilometers.
For
Shadrack Nabea, who is entering his 11th year as head coach, the Silversword women have plenty of experience returning from a successful 2023. Five are back including
Maria Steinke (Columbus, Ohio/University of Dayton/Bexley HS) and
Nikiji Dayse (Memphis, Tenn./Bartlett). Steinke had one of the most successful individual seasons in decades with two top-five finishes including a first-place finish at the University of Hawai'i Hilo Invitational.
Dayse will also try to replicate her freshman season where she was the 'Swords' No. 2 finisher in five races. She finished the UH Hilo Invitational as the runner-up behind Steinke.
Leila-Jayne Casison (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu) is the team's most experienced returnee, entering her fourth year as a Chaminade runner. Other returnees are
Cassie Chong (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) and
Jordyn Koki (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama).
The 'Swords have one newcomer to the team entering this week's Big Wave race with sophomore
Emily Cooper (Mount Desert Island, Maine/Mount Desert Island)
On the men's side, the team has lot of holes to fill.
Conor McMahon (Pacific, Calif./Archbishop Riordan) and
Peter Jan Ramos (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu) are the lone returnees with the former using a fifth-year of athletic eligibility while the latter is coming off a season where he was the 'Swords' No. 2 finisher four times.
Nabea has welcomes
James Carter (Raleigh, Miss./Harrison Central), a freshman whose high school graduation was in 2016, making him a student-athlete with a dearth of life experiences.
The 'Swords also have student-athletes on loan from different sports.
Anthony John Bergancia (Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands/Marianas) and
Anthony Seedeen-Vargas (West Palm Beach, Fla./Keiser University/American Heritage HS) are also on the soccer team.
Sebastian Castro (San Diego, Calif./Palomar College/Great Oak HS),
Jacob Mantiply (Temecula, Calif./University of Saint Katherine/Great Oak HS) and
Mac Zawistoski (Coto de Caza, Calif./JSerra Catholic) are crossing over from the baseball squad.
Following Saturday's UH Manoa race, the Silverswords host their own Chaminade Invitational on Sept. 21 at Kapiolani Park. The UH Hilo Invitational follows on Oct. 5 with the Hawai'i Pacific University Invitational a week later. The Pacific West Conference Championships will be on Oct. 26 at Great Park in Irvine, California.
