Hee Taking Knights To Cross Country Championships
By Jack Danilewicz
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share
Del.icio.us
|
When Martin Hee scans his cross country roster, one sentiment runs through his mind. One after another, he keeps finding himself characterizing his runners as “leaders.”
“I’m sorry if I keep repeating myself, but he’s (Dylan Lee) another one who is a good role model and a leader,” said Hee, the longtime Castle High coach.“That’s how they all are, and it’s taken them far.”
A team of leaders can only be a good thing this weekend when nine of Castle’s runners - seven boys and two girls - are projected by their coach to take part in the Honolulu Marathon Boys and Girls State Cross Country Championships. Hee is hoping his team’s maturity will help it temper the distractions that come with running in the state meet as well as traveling to a neighbor island. Castle leaves for Kona Thursday morning with the race set for 9 a.m. Friday.
“When you’re on the road, there’s no home cooking,” added Hee, whose team competed in the OIA Championships last weekend. “There are distractions - the newness of it, the environment) and the whole state is there -you’re there with the best. Every island has a championship team, and you have the kids from the ILH. It’s very, very competitive.”
Hee also views the trip as a reward for all the work they’ve put in. Fundraising remains a big part of the cross country tradition with runners manning the school concession stands and providing food prep on Football Fridays.
This is the 28th year Hee and the cross country program have over-seen the concessions at football games.“They’re there about seven hours - there’s the set up, the cleanup and selling the product. The next day, on Saturday, they’re running a race. It’s a big undertaking. They’ve worked really hard, so we want to reward them with a trip at the end of the season.”
A strong showing at the state meet will sweeten the trip for the Knights, of course. While nine will take part Friday, those who did not qualify still show up for workouts to help out and stay in shape.
“Our JV team is still coming out, and they don’t have any races left - that says a lot,” said Hee, who led Castle to a girls OIA title in 2001. “We have some seniors who have still been coming out, too. That’s a boost to our morale.”
All seven of Castle’s projected qualifiers from the boys team are either juniors or seniors, led by Eric Pal, who is in his fourth year with the cross country team. He finished second to Roosevelt’s Tomoyuki Miura at the OIA East finals recently, having fought off a ham-string injury along the way which had allowed him only two practice days that week. Back at 100 percent now, he could figure big in the race.
“He’s faced good competition all season long with (Miura),“Hee said. “We’re happy for that boy, and we want to thank him for helping Eric along. They were together (first or second) at all of our dual meets. Eric is a good role model. The kids look to him.”
Also expected to compete on Friday are junior Dylan Lee and seniors Brysen Calkins, Ferlino Carinio, Andrew Johnson, Devinn Zakahi and Reese Oshiro.
“Dylan has the same attitude as Eric - he encourages the runners, and he’s a top student here. Brysen has been a captain for the past two years, and he competes in track also. He’s a guy you can depend on.
“Ferlino has improved a lot since the beginning,” Hee added. “He’s on the quiet side, but his actions speak. Andrew’s primary sport is wrestling, and he has the instinct to go all out that comes from (competing in) an individual sport.”
Senior Megan Akamine and freshman Carly Calkins were expected to qualify in the girls division. Akamine is a four-year letter-man for the Knights.
“She’s been running four years of cross country and track now,“Hee said. “She leads us in our exercises and our stretching. She’s really the matriarch of our team.She keeps everyone in line.
“Carly is only a freshman, and she’s going to improve. I’m looking forward to seeing more exciting times from her. I have faith in her.”
Of the 200 runners in Friday’s race, 64 will represent OIA schools.
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
