UH Cross-Country Team Open 2012 Season

Hawaii’s Tiare Nakashima (693) finished second for UH and 24th overall in 20 minutes, 46 seconds. Photo by UH Athletics.

By Rodney S. Yap

The University of Hawai’i women’s cross country team officially kicked off the 2012 season by competing in the Hawai’i Pacific University Invitational Saturday near Kualoa Ranch.

UH’s “B” team comprised of Erin Carvalho, Megan Dart, Heathe Delgado, Amity Gregg, Bronte Kaneakua, Amanda Lee, Hayley Musahi, Tiare Nakashima, and Rebekah Phillips, placed fourth of five teams.

Alaska-Anchorage won the team title as its top five runners placed among the top six finishers overall. UAA’s Susan Tanui won the 5K race in a time of 18:06 ahead of HPU’s Polina Babkina (18:24).

In the team standings, UAA scored 19 points followed by HPU (62), BYU-Hawai’i (67), UH (110), and Chaminade (130). UH-Hilo entered individual runners.

UH’s top finisher was Gregg, who placed 21^st overall with a time of 20:41. Among the team’s other top five finishers included Nakashima (20:46, 24^th), Dart (21:27, 30^th), Lee (22:01, 33^rd), and Delgado (22:05, 35^th).

The Rainbow Wahine will next host the annual Big Wave Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Kane’ohe Klipper Golf Course at Marines Corps Base Hawai’i. The 5K women’s race begins at 7:05 a.m. followed by the 8K men’s race at 7:45 a.m.