NAKATSUKA CARRIES KAMEHAMEHA TO 10TH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP

A family misfortune helped factor into the celebration for Leilehua sophomore Bryce Jenkins, who won the boys individual state cross country title yesterday.

A beaming Jenkins was congratulated by his father, Lt. Col. Bruce Jenkins, who is on emergency leave from Iraq because of the ailing health of his father-in-law.

With his father cheering him on, Jenkins won the Honolulu Marathon/HHSAA Boys Cross Country State Championships yesterday at Central O'ahu Regional Park.

"It was really great," Bryce said of having his father there to see him win.

Meanwhile, Kamehameha scored a low-best 79 points to win its 10th team title, and eighth in the past 10 years.

Jenkins finished the 3-mile race in 16 minutes, 23.30 seconds, followed by Hawai'i Prep senior Mac Crommett in 16:39.70 and 'Iolani senior Kon Weber in 16:40.90.

It was a good day for Big Island runners. Led by Crommett's showing, six Big Island runners finished in the top 10.

One Big Island runner, Christian Liberty senior Keoni Ucker, pushed Jenkins almost the entire race. Although the pace early on was faster than Jenkins preferred, he was able to maintain it as he and Ucker separated from the pack and took turns taking the lead.

"Me and Ucker were battling it out," Jenkins said. "We were trying to get behind each other to draft."

Jenkins pulled away from Ucker, who appeared to be a foot taller than Jenkins, with about half a mile left. Jenkins' strategy was "to stick with the fastest guy and outrun him," and said Ucker "gave me a run for my money."

The Kamehameha boys team continued the success it enjoyed the entire season, led by junior Nathan Nakatsuka, who placed eighth overall in 17:16.40.

Kamehameha was followed by Leilehua with 107 points and 'Iolani with 109.

"We were winning every week, and that's not how we always do things," Kamehameha coach Steve Jenness said. "We didn't run as planned. We came out with a bit of a slow start, but that might have paid off for us."

Jenness said he's most proud of the team's point total, and that the Warriors posted scores of 80 to 85 the past 10 years.

Along with Nakatsuka, Kamalu Beamer (16th overall, 17:38.90), Kainoa Ho (18th, 17:39.80), Kyle Pidot (24th, 17:50.55) and Micah Gomes (41st, 18:20.55) scored for Kamehameha. Kahekili Puhipau and Keylan Sato also ran for the Warriors.

"It's worth all the hard work," Nakatsuka said. He added that the graduation of last year's champion, Jeremy Kamaka'ala, meant "without someone to count on, we had to count on everyone."

WONG'S FOURTH-PLACE FINISH PROPELS PUNAHOU TO 20TH GIRLS CROWN

As expected, Maryknoll sophomore Julie Besenbruch ran away with the girls state cross country title.

Besenbruch crossed the finish line with a nearly half-minute lead on her closest competitor in The Honolulu Advertiser/HHSAA Girls Cross Country State Championships at Central O'ahu Regional Park yesterday.

Punahou scored a low-best 49 points to easily win its second straight team title and 20th overall.

Besenbruch won the 3-mile race in 19 minutes, 26.80 seconds. Mililani freshman Kristin Ali Keith was second in 19:52.80 and Kaua'i senior Chelsea Smith-Wishard was third in 19:56.40.

Besenbruch, Keith, Smith-Wishard and La Pietra's Haley Abing, who finished ninth, broke from the pack in the early going.

"I was taking the first mile really fast," Besenbruch said.

After winning the Interscholastic League of Honolulu title last week on the same course, Besenbruch used that familiarity to plot her race strategy.

"After I finished the first set of hills I wanted to surge," she said. "I tried to push the pace. I don't know if I did. It helped because I knew when I could afford to surge."

Besenbruch's surge did create separation, giving her a 40-yard lead around the 2-mile mark.

"I don't pay attention to the other runners," she said. "They always feel closer than they are."

While Besenbruch's title was never in question — along with Keith and Smith-Wishard's place in the meet — it was Punahou senior Christina Wong who was making a move on the rest of the field to help spark the Buffanblu's win. She was one of four Punahou runners to finish in the top 15.

"Obviously, if you can get five medalists, you have a good shot at winning," Punahou coach Duncan Macdonald said. "But a few years ago we had five medalists, but 'Iolani had six."

Punahou easily outdistanced second-place Kamehameha (110) and third-place 'Iolani (132).

Scoring for the Buffanblu were Wong (4th, 20:02.75), Hope Alexander (10th, 20:26.50), Kristi Torkildson (11th, 20:32.05), Farrah Manaday (12th, 20:33.65) and Marisa Schoen (27th, 21:24.10). Jasmine Daniel and Chelsea Oda also ran for Punahou.

"We all finished in different places every meet," said Wong, who hung back early but caught several runners ahead of her in the final half mile. "I knew if everybody ran their best, we could win."

Macdonald said except for one runner who was injured, and another who was healing, "our girls came through. Overall, everybody had their best race of the season."

BOYS

TEAM

1, Kamehameha 79 (Nathan Nakatsuka, Kamalu Beamer, Kainoa Ho, Kyle Pidot, Micah Gomes, Kahekili Puhipau, Keylan Sato).

2, Leilehua 107 (Bryce Jenkins, Alan Akagi, Jon Chun, Jayson Dumaoal, Donzel Scott, Husam Hafidh).

3, 'Iolani 109 (Kon Weber, Tyler Mulloy, Sean Dudevoir, Jonathan Edon, Trevor Leong, Clay Ozaki-Train, Rylan Morihara).

4, Honoka'a 138.

5, Punahou 162.

6, Seabury Hall 194.

7, Radford 241.

8, Hawai'i Baptist 255.

9, Kaiser 259.

10, Baldwin 263.

11, Mililani 286.

12, Mid-Pacific 297.

13, Hawai'i Prep 299.

14, Christian Liberty 343.

15, Roosevelt 369.

16, 'Aiea 381.

17, Waimea 381.

18, KEA'AU 388.

19, Waiakea 409.

20, King Kekaulike 481.

INDIVIDUAL

1, Bryce Jenkins (Lei) 16:23.30. 2, Mac Crommett (HPA) 16:39.70. 3, Kon Weber ('Iol) 16:40.90. 4, Travis Larsen-Helb (Hon) 16:42.65. 5, Jake Shiraki (Hon) 16:49.50. 6, Keoni Ucker (CL) 16:52.00. 7, Mark Turner (Hilo) 16:58.40. 8, Nathan Nakatsuka (KS) 17:16.40. 9, Carl Adolpho III (Mol) 17:18.20. 10, Nick Bart (Kona) 17:23.00. 11, Matthew Nakamoto (HBA) 17:23.35. 12, Tyler Mulloy ('Iol) 17:24.45. 13, Alan Akagi (Lei) 17:28.85. 14, Scott Motobu (MPI) 17:29.55. 15, Chris Burniske (Pun) 17:34.05. 16, Kamalu Beamer (KS) 17:38.90. 17, Dexter Monroe (Moan) 17:39.65. 18, Kainoa Ho (KS) 17:39.80. 19, Trevor Wong (Kais) 17:41.65. 20, Kalani Rosell (KS-Maui) 17:41.85. 21, Garrett Prinslow (Keala) 17:46.75. 22, Christian Putegnet (Camp) 17:49.10. 23, Preston Vierra (Hon) 17:49.15. 24, Kyle Pidot (KS) 17:50.55. 25, Kaimana Girod (Waim) 17:50.60. 26, Sean Dudevoir ('Iol) 17:53.05. 27, Jon Chun (Lei) 17:56.25. 28, Elmer Arceo (Waip) 17:56.35. 29, Eric Lau (KS-Hawai'i) 17:56.40. 30, Dillon Soldwisch (Lah) 17:59.30. 31, Landon Nagata (Pun) 17:59.60. 32, Chris Marsh (Island) 18:01.65. 33, John Sanchez (Kea'au) 18:03.75. 34, Joey Amescua (Bald) 18:07.55. 35, Craig Kandler (Kais) 18:08.90. 36, Devin Fredericksen (Sea) 18:09.35. 37, Charles Gumm (Rad) 18:11.50. 38, Eamon Harrity (Kona) 18:12.05. 39, Kensuke Taylor (Kail) 18:16.25. 40, Jordon McEntire (Sea) 18:17.40. 41, Micah Gomes (KS) 18:20.55. 42, Collin Hoo (Pun) 18:22.95. 43, Derek Hondo (Bald) 18:24.60. 44, Fil Colon (Sea) 18:24.75. 45, Michael Pagdilao ('Aiea) 18:24.90. 46, Spencer Sutherland (HBA) 18:25.30. 47, Tomoyuki Miura (Roos) 18:26.10. 48, Kahekili Puhipau (KS) 18:26.90. 49, Jayson Dumaoal (Lei) 18:27.75. 50, Jordan Lerma (KS-Hawai'i) 18:28.50. 51, Jonathan Edon ('Iol) 18:29.40. 52, Daniel Aki (Mili) 18:31.85. 53, Jossue Corrales (Sea) 18:32.65. 54, Donzel Scott (Lei) 18:33.35. 55, Trevor Leong ('Iol) 18:33.65. 56, Matthew Walker (Mili) 18:34.95. 57, Eli Hart (HP) 18:38.30. 58, Andrew Atangan (Rad) 18:38.45. 59, Dylan Azzarella (Pahoa) 18:38.65. 60, Jeffrey King (Camp) 18:38.75. 61, Marc Arakawa (Bald) 18:40.30. 62, Adrian Acasio (Rad) 18:42.40. 63, John Remis (Roos) 18:43.60. 64, Ramon Melendez (Mili) 18:44.95. 65, Kevin Dorn (Makua Lani) 18:46.10. 66, Sam Roeca (Pun) 18:53.70. 67, Clay Ozaki-Train ('Iol) 18:54.60. 68, Reyn Fernandez (Pun) 18:55.05. 69, Josh Rimel (CL) 18:56.45. 70, Danson Vorderbrueg (Kais) 18:57.00. 71, Brandon Mageary (Rad) 18:57.55. 72, Donovan Goto (MPI) 18:57.85. 73, Nathan Quinlan (Hon) 18:57.95. 74, Jerry Nourrie (Hon) 18:58.50. 75, Devin Lonso (Kalani) 18:59.10.

GIRLS

TEAM

1, Punahou 49 (Christina Wong, Hope Alexander, Kristi Torkildson, Farrah Manaday, Marisa Schoen, Jasmine Daniel, Chelsea Oda).

2, Kamehameha 110 (Dara Pagaduan, Cheyane Kamai, Emma Broderick, Noelani Mikami, Alana Meditz, Tessie Lumabao, Kristen Kauhane)

3, 'Iolani 132 (Jenna Wong, Katelyn Pellitteri, Leyna Jean Esaki, Amelia Linsky, Andrea Wong, Kelsi Hirai, Patricia Carlile)

4, Mililani 164.

5, Hawai'i Prep 171.

6, Kamehameha-Hawai'i 172.

7, Seabury Hall 194.

8, Leilehua 195.

9, King Kekaulike 247.

10, Kahuku 264.

11, 'Aiea 337.

12, Roosevelt 344.

13, Kaiser 354.

14, Kaua'i 355.

15, Baldwin 385.

16, Kealakehe 397.

17, Hawai'i Baptist 411.

18, Waiakea 435.

19, Pearl City 449.

INDIVIDUAL

1, Julie Besenbruch (Mary) 19:26.80. 2, Kristin Ali Keith (Mili) 19:52.80. 3, Chelsea Smith-Wishard (Kaua'i) 19:56.40. 4, Christina Wong (Pun) 20:02.75. 5, Scarlett Johnson (HPA) 20:05.65. 6, Jenna Wong ('Iol) 20:14.20. 7, Malia Kagawa (Mary) 20:17.55. 8, Hailey Grossman (Sea) 20:21.15. 9, Haley Abing (LP) 20:22.75. 10, Hope Alexander (Pun) 20:26.50. 11, Kristi Torkildson (Pun) 20:32.05. 12, Farrah Manaday (Pun) 20:33.65. 13, Dayna Domingo (PC) 20:37.80. 14, Dara Pagaduan (KS) 20:41.30. 15, Alicia Greenwell (Hon) 20:44.90. 16, Katelyn Pellitteri ('Iol) 20:47.75. 17, Leialoha Bratton (Kais) 20:51.65. 18, Keri Ogden (HP) 20:52.35. 19, Cheyane Kamai (KS) 20:56.05. 20, Emma Broderick (KS) 20:56.55. 21, Lauren Vieira (KS-Hawai'i) 21:09.60. 22, Mallory Kurosumi (MPI) 21:10.45. 23, Keilani Wasson (Kah) 21:10.85. 24, Carissa Bell-Chase (KS-Hawai'i) 21:12.95. 25, Libby Matthews (Sea) 21:15.65. 26, Nicole Bae (Roos) 21:16.75. 27, Marisa Schoen (Pun) 21:24.10. 28, Savannah Lowrie (Lei) 21:26.30. 29, Noelani Mikami (KS) 21:31.55. 30, Jessica Norman (Keala) 21:32.35. 31, Jana Larson (Ka'u) 21:33.45. 32, Joilynn Hollies (Camp) 21:33.95. 33 Charmaine Tomlinson (Rad) 21:35.45. 34, Gina Galante (St. A) 21:36.20. 35, Brooke Brown (Mili) 21:39.50. 36, Tara McCoy (Kaua'i) 21:40.90. 37, Jasmine Daniel (Pun) 21:41.80. 38, Amanda Tanhchaleun ('Aiea) 21:44.65. 39, Brittany Young (Sea) 21:47.55. 40, Caralyn Broyles (Waim) 21:49.95. 41, Nicole Painter (Mili) 21:52.25. 42, Leyna Jean Esaki ('Iol) 21:53.95. 43, Mary Brzezowski (KS-Hawai'i) 21:54.65. 44, Amelia Linsky ('Iol) 21:57.50. 45, Jennifer Ashley Lo (Waip) 21:58.45. 46, Megan Wery (KS-Hawai'i) 22:01.55. 47, Mary Rose De Vera (Lei) 22:01.95. 48, Claire Hann (Mary) 22:04.30. 49, Kelli Rice (Lei) 22:05.15. 50, Rochelle Lee (Kais) 22:05.75. 51, Bristol Dunlap (KK) 22:08.15. 52, Lauren Crawford (Lei) 22:09.60. 53, Kelsie Abellanida (KK) 22:10.95. 54, Alexa Loney (KK) 22:11.40. 55, Amanda Tamanaha (St. A) 22:12.20. 56, Jaimie Watkins ('Aiea) 22:14.40. 57, Alana Meditz (KS) 22:18.25. 58, Shayna Obrero-Zabl (Lana'i) 22:20.45. 59, Demetria Woods (Rad) 22:21.25. 60, Ayesha Pladera (Bald) 22:26.50. 61, Danica Auna (Kah) 22:27.40. 62, Erinn Walsh (Makua Lani) 22:28.50. 63, Noe Vargas (HPA) 22:28.80. 64, Darian Auna (Kah) 22:32.55. 65, Andrea Wong ('Iol) 22:33.50. 66, Kylie Ann Kanda (Mili) 22:35.95. 67, Anna Itoh (HPA) 22:38.90. 68, Chelsea Chan (HBA) 22:39.05. 69, Pauline Tran (Roos) 22:42.25. 70, Anastasiya Kryvuly (KK) 22:47.95. 71, Emily Youngblood (HP) 22:49.15. 72, Noel Hakoda (Mili) 22:51.85. 73, Danielle Painter (Mili) 22:54.05. 74, Shyana Swanson (Maui) 22:55.20. 75, Kellie Kitaoka (Kona) 22:55.30.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.