HILO, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University cross country teams wrapped up their regular season Saturday at the University of Hawai'i Hilo Invitational at the Naniloa Golf Course.
The Silversword women placed second with 52 points while the men's team was third with 45.
After finishing as the runner-up in both 2023 and '24 events,
Nikiji Dayse (Memphis, Tenn./Bartlett) finally broke through, capturing medalist honors by completing the women's course, setting a new program-record in a 6-kilometer event with a finishing time of 22 minutes, 28.0 seconds. The junior won the race by a whopping 27 seconds and was her second career first-place finish.
Jocelyn Thomas (Tonganoxie, Kan./Kaiser, Honolulu) finished sixth overall, coming in at 24:33.5.
Cassie Chong (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) recorded a time of 27:02.9, followed by
Emily Cooper (Mount Desert Island, Maine/Mount Desert Island) at 28:09.6. Senior
Jordyn Koki (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama), competing in her final regular season race, came in at 28:30.9 while
Maggie Turnbach (Brick, N.J./St. Rose) rounded up the team at 29:31.5.
UH Hilo won the women's team title with 22 points.
In the men's 6-k,
Kalama Francisco (Pahoa, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Hawai'i) finished as runner-up at 22:22.8, just 18 seconds behind race winner, Aaron Garcia of Hawai'i Pacific University.
Anthony John Bergancia (Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands/Marianas) was the 'Swords' No. 2 finisher, coming in seventh overall in a time of 23:41.7 while
Anthony Fontanez (Belmar, N.J./St. Rose) was 10th overall at 24:24.1.
Rounding out the 'Swords' contingent was
James Carter (Raleigh, Miss./Harrison Central) at 26:08.8,
Nate Mendez (Kailua, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kailua) at 26:25.5 and
Dyson Murakami (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kalani) at 27:24.9.
HPU won the men's title with 33 points.
Both Silversword teams will gear up for the Pacific West Conference Championships which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Hawai'i Country Club in Kunia.
