Sunrise Athletics and Services, LLC

Foot Locker sponsors the premier high school regional and national 5K (3.1miles) cross-country championships held in California.  For the second year, Sunrise Athletics sent Big Island’s top runners to compete against the best harriers in the west region.  This annual event attracts over 1,000 runners, ranging from the top in the state to future collegiate and national caliber champions competing in several divisions.

“Running with that level reinforces that there is more competition than what I find in Hawaii, and there is more to shoot for than being the top in the state.” said Waiakea’s Ian McQuate posting a time of 17:46.  Club teammate Kaylee Rapoza (24:21) of Hilo High, who will be running for UH-Hilo next fall, had similar thoughts noting “It was important to experience that level of competition because it puts things in perspective, and I know how much harder I have to work”.  Kaylee felt the course was comparable to the state’s toughest cross-country course at HPA.

Other athletes that also performed well on the 5K course that featured three demanding hills were Hilo’s Carmen Garson-Shumway (21:11), Stephen Hunter (18:25), Max Panoff (20:16), St. Joseph’s Andrew Langtry (18:27), Waiakea’s Vandey Okinaka (25:19) and Dyson Sato (20:17).    

Club founders MJ and Lance Tominaga coached the athletes during the post cross-country season in preparation for this prestigious event.