A year older?
Yes.
A year better?
Possibly.
Whether or not the UH-Hilo women’s cross-country team makes more strides remains to be seen.
“Experience” comes in the form of six sophomores and three freshman for the Vulcans, who open the season Saturday at UH-Manoa’s Big Wave Invitational on the North Shore of Oahu.
“Funny as it sounds, we are way more experienced than we were a year ago,” veteran coach Jaime Guerpo said in a school release. “This group got a lot of positive collegiate experience last year. They work hard and push each other.”
Armed with seven freshmen and one senior in 2018, UHH placed ninth of 11 teams at the Pacific West Conference championships, and the season as whole was a marked improvement from the previous one.
“For years, we were the doormats of the conference,” Guerpo said. “No more. Last year’s class, along with three promising freshmen, gives us the base to keep getting better and build the program.”
Sophomore Olivia Jarvis of Oceanside, Calif., returns ready to lead after pacing the Vuls in every meet but one last season. Her times were equal or better than that of UH Hilo’s top runner this decade, Anna Baker Mikkelsen.
Jarvis finished 39th at the PacWest championship 5K in 24 minutes, 1 second and crossed the line third in two other races.
Sophomore Annaka Barragan posted the Vuls’ top time, 19:45, in the one race that Jarvis wasn’t UHH’s top runner, and Barragan performed steadily before injuries slowed her at the end of the year.
The three freshmen, including Keaau High alum Sabina Boo-Rivera, earned spots at the Big Wave along with Jarvis, Barrigan and sophomore Makena Morris, who was UHH’s second-fastest runner on two occasions. The other freshmen are Emma Heidelmeier (Pagosa Springs, Colo.) and Catalina Contreras (Spring, Texas).
Also returning are Caitlin Kawaiaea, who placed third for the Vuls in two late meets, and fellow sophomores Lily Gavagan and Shaelee West.
“The freshman have looked very good so far,” Guerpo said. “They have raised the level during our workouts and have made a big impact. They are strong and motivated. But racing is a completely different dynamic, so I am looking forward to see how they fare in our first races.”
The Vulcans’ home meet comes a little later in the year than usual this season, Oct. 12 at Grand Naniloa Golf Course.
They’ll get a preview of the PacWest course Sept. 7 at the Biola Invitational in Fullerton, Calif, and there are also races on tap at Chaminade, Sept. 21, and Hawaii Pacific, Oct. 5, leading up to the Oct. 26 PacWest championships.