KEAAU — Louie Ondo and Mehana Sabado-Halpern gave the biker setting the pace at Saturday’s Big Island Interscholastic Federation cross-country race a run for his money.
Beyond that, Keaau High was not the place to be for those looking for close competition.
Ondo and Sabado-Halpern are getting faster. It was just another day at the office for both — each made it 5 for 5 in 3-mile races this season. But it was far from ho-hum — each set a personal-record in the heat on a course considered fast.
Ondo, a Waiakea junior, was looking to break 16 minutes, and he smashed it, coming in at 15:42.79. He also PR’d three weeks ago at Kamehameha.
“I’m striving to be the best that I can be, and the only way I can do that is to push myself to be the best until I drop,” he said.
This particular Saturday was different from the rest in a few aspects. The race started with a lap around the track, so Ondo took the form he used last May in winning the 800 meters to get off to an early lead. Also, he said he felt good, as opposed to last Saturday when he was pushed by some Hilo’s River Brown at Hawaii Preparatory Academy.
“I’m not sure what my next goal is, but I’m going to think of one and shoot for it,” Ondo said.
While she glided along, it wasn’t just a stroll through the park for Sabado-Halpern.
The Hilo senior finished in 19:11.50, then she quickly went and took a seat — giving her plenty to wait until the next runner, HPA’s Ada Benson, came in.
“I think this is the most tired I’ve ever been after a race,” Sabado-Halpern said. “It was really humid. When I was running on the asphalt it felt like my feet were on fire.
“It helped that there was a biker. I guess that helped the paces a little.”
Sabado-Halpern wanted to try and break 19 minutes, but she said that finish was compromised by her blazing start.
“My first mile (5:56) was way too fast again,” she said.
Ondo and Sabado-Halpern both plan to run next Saturday at Kamehameha, and the BIIF championships are Oct. 24 at HPA.
Each already has proven capable of handling the hilly course in Waimea this season. And while it won’t allow for PR’s, it will allow for some relief.
“It was rainy and nice and cool (last Saturday),” Sabado-Halpern said. “I hope it’s like that at BIIFs.”
While individual competition is hard to come by at the top, the boys team race could shape up as one to watch.
Kealakehe won the scoring Saturday, doing so for the second time this season. It outpointed HPA, which has won the other three meets.
Sophomore Ziggy Bartholomy posted his first runner-up finish as the Waveriders placed three in the top 10 and six in the top 30. Thunder Frost, last year’s BIIF runner-up, was sixth and Adalberto Malagon was 10th.
“Those three are pretty solid,” said first-year coach Brad Lachance, who carries a robust roster of 51 boys and girls. “They’ve all finished in the top 10 in every race they’ve run.”
Frost was running in only his second race this season as he shakes a knee injury.
The key at BIIFs is depth — the top five times count — and that’s where runners such as Kealakehe’s Seannacy McNeil (20th Saturday), Gavin Ullman (21st) and Mitchell Dixon (27th) come in.
“I think our Nos. 4-5-6-7 are all very comparable,” Lachance said. “We need one of those guys to step up and have a terrific race challenge at BIIFs.”
The Lady Waverider got a top-10 finish from Riley Arroyo and finished second behind Ka Makani. The perennial girls power placed nine in the top 15.
Lachance pointed out that the top two teams at BIIFs will send seven runners to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association championships. His squads are in position to do that.
“The boys are basically in second trying to get to first,” he said. “The girls are in second trying to hold on to that spot.”