Instead of running up steep hills, runners at the 'Iolani Invitational's new Ford Island course dealt with wind and dust yesterday.

The biggest cross country meet in the state moved from the hills of Kualoa Ranch to Ford Island, racing on a former golf course. Leilehua's Bryce Jenkins and Mililani's Kristin Ali Keith were the top local finishers in the varsity 5-kilometer races. Jenkins placed third among the boys in 16 minutes, 20.96 seconds and Keith finished fourth among the girls in 19:45.27.

Matt Duffy of St. Mary's (Calif.) and Robyn Arnold of Redlands (Calif.) ran to individual titles. Arnold led three teammates into the top 10 as Redlands won the team title with a low-best 33 points. Maryknoll was second with 118. Palos Verdes (Calif.) won the boys title with 49 points; Leilehua was third with 96.

There were a total of 875 finishers in six intermediate and high school races. The change in sites was made as part of the invitational's partnership with the United Services Organization. USO held two races before the invitational yesterday.

"It was actually really nice," said Jenkins, the defending state champion who has run uncontested this season but had competitors right with him yesterday. "It pushed me. When I thought I was going to quit, I just told myself to catch up with that guy."

With less than a mile left, Nick Devier of Lakewood (Calif.) caught up to Duffy. Duffy, a senior, shook off his nerves to win in 15:58.82.

"At first I was a little scared that he may just go by me, but I responded to his attack," Duffy said. "With about 600 meters, I decided to just win the race."

Hawai'i Baptist's Matthew Nakamoto was fifth with a time of 16:51.15 and Leilehua's Paul Williams finished ninth at 16:55.61.

Arnold, a freshman, led from start to finish in the girls race, winning in 19:10.10.

"It was very hard with the wind pushing against you," she said. "I just really worked it and tried to quicken my rotation to get through it.

"I usually don't get pretty good starts. Me and my team, we were telling each other to get out first and encouraging each other to try and do our best out."

Redlands coach Rodney Anzai, a Saint Louis and University of Hawai'i alum, was pleased.

"This is the third major invitational we've won this season," said Anzai, whose son, Alan, won the state title in 1983 for Saint Louis. "What's nice about it is my senior girls are the ones leading the pack. I got a good freshman and she finally won her first race."

Mililani's Keith, runner-up at last year's state championship, passed Maryknoll's Haley Abing with less than a mile remaining. Abing, who attends La Pietra, finished fifth in 19:46.09. Maile Scarpino of 'Iolani was seventh in 19:55.79 and teammate Jenna Wong was ninth in 19:57.76.

"It was interesting," Keith said of running against Mainland competition. "They're really talented. It was good seeing what you're like compared to them."

St. Mary's coach Jeff Rogers, who brought his team to the 'Iolani Invitational several years ago, liked the new course that was near Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. He also liked how his team from Berkeley handled the weather adjustment.

"I think anytime you go to such a different climate, it's always going to affect you," Rogers said. "I was pretty proud of how our boys and girls performed."

Aside from running, surfing and swimming, St. Mary's also got a chance to bond on the trip.

"This has been a great trip for us," Duffy said. "The team is a lot closer now. We had a great time in Hawai'i; people have been really nice. I've learned a lot coming here. I think overall, our team had a great time."

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.