UH to Cross Country Invitational in Kane’ohe

The UH cross country team will host the 12th Annual Big Wave Invitational Saturday. Photo by UH Athletics.

By Rodney S. Yap

The University of Hawai’i women’s cross country team will host the 12th Annual Big Wave Invitational Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Kane’ohe Klipper Golf Course on the Marines Corps Base Hawai’i.

The 5K men’s race begins at 7:05 a.m. followed by the 5K women’s race at 7:45 a.m.

Competing along with host UH are the state’s Division II teams Hawai’i Pacific, Brigham Young-Hawai’i, Chaminade, UH-Hilo along with Alaska-Anchorage and George Fox University.

Last year, the Rainbow Wahine placed third behind team champion Alaska-Anchorage and runner-up Brigham Young-Hawai’i. UH’s top finisher was sophomore Kevyn Murphy, who took eighth place with a time of 19:31:38. Five other ‘Bows finished in the top 20 — Ashlee Jimenez and Celeste Almarez took 12th and 13th place respectively with times of 19:55:02 and 19:55:72, while Alison Williams (20:12:59), Louise Mulvey (20:38:25), and Ariana Horton (20:43:28) finished 18th, 19th, and 20th.

What: Big Wave Invitational

Date: Saturday, Sept. 8

Time: 7:05 a.m. (men); 7:45 a.m. (women)

Where: Kane’ohe Klipper Golf Course; Kane’ohe, O’ahu

Big Wave Invitational History

Over the last decade, the Rainbow Wahine have captured four Big Wave Invitational titles in 2001, ’04, ’06, and ’10. Individually, UH runners have won titles in 2000 & ’01 (Cheryl Smith), 2006 & ’07 (Chantelle Laan Wilder), 2009 (Jessica Forrester), and 2010 (Ashley Aitken).