KEAAU – Waiakea’s Eric Cabais-Fernandez made his move with about a half mile to go, while Makua Lani’s Tia Lurbiecki didn’t even wait that long. ADVERTISING KEAAU – Waiakea’s Eric Cabais-Fernandez made his move with about a half mile to
KEAAU – Waiakea’s Eric Cabais-Fernandez made his move with about a half mile to go, while Makua Lani’s Tia Lurbiecki didn’t even wait that long.
They were even, and then they were leavin’.
A pair of first-time winners emerged Saturday at Keaau High during the fourth BIIF cross-country meet of the season, where the boys got drenched during their 5K before showers passed, leaving the girls to run in relative comfort.
Kealakehe was conspicuous by its absence – freshmen Audrey Weir has been the top BIIF finisher three times while and Alec Ankrum has two wins this season – but it’s always been only a matter of time until Lurbiecki finally found first place.
After the sophomore completed the course in 20 minutes, 36.67 seconds ahead of a group of four Hilo runners, her coach told her something every competitor wants to hear.
“You did everything I wanted you to,” coach Dan Moreno said.
Lurbiecki, third at BIIFs last season and a double silver medalist in track and field, was a few paces in front of the pack when she turned for a half loop toward the south grounds of the school.
When she returned, the race was for second.
“I said to run negative splits, which means to run the first half of the race slower, if it’s staying with the pack,” Moreno said. “When it starts feeling right, to go ahead and pick it up, depending on how you feel.”
Three regular season-season races remain (Hawaii Prep, Waiakea and Keaau) before Kamehameha hosts the BIIF championships Oct. 21. Last week at Kamehameha, Lurbiecki was the eighth BIIF finisher.
“There is still a lot of work to be done,” Moreno said. “She has everything built in to her running ability, but it’s fine-tuning to the end of the season. We working on her turnover speed, so she can go to that tempo to upticking her pace when she needs to.”
Lurbiecki said a Makua Lani rule prohibited her from talking to the media.
Proving that cross-country is, after all, a team sport, Cabais-Fernandez let teammate and Adrian Larkspur do much of the talking for him.
“As long as we’re one-two at the end, we’re happy,” Larkspur said.
“We just push off each other to win,” Cabais-Fernandez said.
But why did he finish first this time, in 17:26.14, more than eight seconds in front of Larkspur in second?
“Just the drive to win,” said Cabais-Fernandez, perhaps throwing a friendly jab at his friend.
Larkspur acknowledged Ankrum as the Waiakea runners’ main competition on the individual trail, while Hilo is the prime threat as the Warriors work into shape to try and win their third consecutive team title.
“We’re focusing on teamwork and packing and working together,” Larkspur said. “It’s constant pushing. We’re always encouraging each other after every practice, a good high-five and a good hug.”
As freshmen, Larkspur and Cabais-Fernandez each scored points for the Warriors at BIIFs as they ended a long team title drought, and Larkspur led the repeat run last season in Waimea, finishing fourth overall.
Cabais-Fernandez also competes as a pole vaulter, taking silver last season at BIIFS, and he and Larkspur benefit from working with coaches Lance Tominaga and Mary Jane Tominaga with their club, Sunrise Athletics.
“It’s good, quality workouts with a purpose,” Larkspur said.
