KAHUKU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University men's and women's cross country teams on Saturday got started with the traditional season opening University of Hawai'i Big Wave Invitational at the Kahuku Golf Course.
The Silverswords women finished fourth in their 5-kilometer event, notching 101 points while the men came in second in their 5-k race with 37 points.
Maria Steinke (Columbus, Ohio/University of Dayton/Bexley HS) picked up where she left off, finishing ninth overall at 20:29.5, the first Division II runner to cross.
Nikiji Dayse (Memphis, Tenn./Bartlett) was not far behind at 20:37.2 to finish 12th overall.
Jordyn Koki (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) was Chaminade's No. 3 finisher at 25:01.1, which was 31st overall, followed by
Emily Cooper (Mount Desert Island, Maine/Mount Desert Island) at 25:06.
Leila-Jayne Casison (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu) began her senior season with a time of 27:15.
Host Hawai'i Manoa was the women's team winner, finishing with a perfect score of 15 by placing the race's first five finishers. Rainbow Wahine Emilie Langschwager took medalist honors at 18:09.8.
In the men's race,
Peter Jan Ramos (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Waipahu) began his senior year with a third-place overall finish, clocking a finishing time of 18:37.6.
Ramos was followed by newcomer
Anthony John Bergancia (Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands/Marianas), who came in seventh at 21:30.6. Another veteran returnee,
Conor McMahon (Pacific, Calif./Archbishop Riordan), logged a time of 23:29.9.
Sebastian Castro (San Diego, Calif./Palomar College/Great Oak HS) and
Mac Zawistoski (Coto de Caza, Calif./JSerra Catholic), on loan from the Chaminade baseball team, made their cross country debuts with respective times of 24:37.7 and 25:51.5.
Hawai'i Pacific University took the men's team event with 18. HPU's Tyler Stoker took medalist honors with a time of 17:25.8.
The Silverswords are next in action on Saturday, Sept. 21 when they host their own Chaminade Invitational at Kapiolani Park. The first race will begin at 7:15 a.m.
