KAHUKU, O'ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University men's and women's cross country teams made their 2026 debut Saturday at the University of Hawai'i Big Wave Invitational at the Kahuku Golf Course.
The Silverswords men finished the 5-kilometer race in second with 31 points with Hawai'i Pacific University finishing tops with 25.
Newcomer
Amari Lino (Manchester, Pa./Northeastern), one of three newcomers, was the first CUH finisher, coming in third at 20 minutes, 38.3 seconds. Returnees
Anthony John Bergancia (Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands/Marianas) and
James Carter (Raleigh, Miss./Harrison Central) were fifth and sixth with respective times of 22:50.3 and 24:26.0.
Nicholas Gebbia (San Antonio, Texas/Lee) finished at 29:20.1.
Two Silversword student-athletes from other sports also made their cross country debuts. Peyton Lambrecht (Milwaukee, Wis./Sauk Valley CC/Whitefish Bay HS) finished at 26:47.1 while
Bode Poler crossed the finish line in 27:17.03. Lambrecht is with men's basketball while Poler plays baseball.
The Sharks' Jake Hanley was the men's winner with a time of 18:18.90.
In the women's 5-k, CUH came in fourth with 91 points.
Jocelyn Thomas (Tonganoxie, Kan./Kaiser, Honolulu) had the ladies' team low time at 21:42.20, a 10th-place overall finish.
Fourth-year seniors were next with
Cassie Chong (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) at 24:14.50 and
Jordyn Koki (Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) at 26:52.70.
Ava Walker (Las Vegas/Faith Lutheran) followed at 27:16.80 while
Summer Buck (Honolulu/Kaiser), who like Walker plays softball, made her sport debut and finished at 27:49.20.
Aleah Montgomery (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Leilehua) rounded out the 'Swords at 36:18.90.
UH Manoa's Mikaella Martin was the individual champion at 18:34.30. The Division I Rainbow Wahine had the top five scores to finish with 15 points.
Both Silverswords teams return to action on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the HPU Invitational at the Hawai'i Country Club in Waipahu.
