WAIMEA — Honokaa’s Sophia Cash continued to prove she is money in championship races, while Konawaena’s Cody Ranfranz simply ran away with his victory at the BIIF cross country championships at Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Friday afternoon. ADVERTISING WAIMEA —
WAIMEA — Honokaa’s Sophia Cash continued to prove she is money in championship races, while Konawaena’s Cody Ranfranz simply ran away with his victory at the BIIF cross country championships at Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Friday afternoon.
Cash, a Honokaa sophomore, reeled off her second straight individual crown, while Ranfranz made history as Konawaena’s first individual champion in over over a decade.
If at all possible, Cash found a way to pull off another surprise, despite being the defending champion. During the season, Waiakea’s Saya Yabe went a perfect 5 for 5 in league races, and was rarely pushed. Cash’s top finish this season was second, but she was still more than a minute behind Yabe at that race.
But just as she did last year, Cash saved her best for last, finishing the 5K race in 22 minutes and 18.30 seconds. She has won two races in her young BIIF career — both championships.
Yabe finished just a few strides behind, coming in at 22:30.33. Makua Lani freshman Tia Lurbiecki (23:17.95) rounded out the podium.
“I really can’t explain it. It’s just when you get to the championship, everything is on the line. I’m at a loss for words,” Cash said after the race. “Saya is my idol and I really couldn’t do it without her. She pushes me.”
On the boys side, Ranfranz reclaimed the dominance he showed early in the season. The accomplished Wildcat senior crossed the tape in 18:59.14. Hilo sophomore Steven Chung (19:06.00) just edged Hawaii Prep freshman Javan Perez (19:06.32) for second place.
Ranfranz, who has been a prevalent name over the last few years on the Kona endurance sports scene, ranks the victory pretty high on his list of accomplishments.
“It feels pretty good, but I’m just happy it’s over,” Ranfranz said. “It was just a mental game. I knew what I had to do and just went out and did it.”
Konawaena coach Patrick Bradley had nothing but praise for the school’s first cross-country champ since Patrick Stover did it in 2005.
“Cody has a goal to run at the next level, and he will. He is just getting better and better,” Bradley said. “He is a hard worker who is dedicated to his craft and is the perfect example of the type of kid you want to coach.”
On the team side, the Hawaii Prep girls added to their dynasty, reeling off the Division I title. The Ka Makani boys didn’t disappoint either, just edging out Konawaena for the DII title. Waiakea also maintained its team dominance, taking home the boys DI crown.
To go along with Cash’s first place finish, Honokaa got another surprise, capturing the girls DII title — the first for the program.
“The girls worked really hard for this,” Honokaa head coach Jeri Moniz said. “It’s incredible.”
It may be the start of something special for the Dragons, who are riding a youth movement to some unprecedented success. Cash is just a sophomore and leads the way, and the rest of the five-runner squad is made up of two sophomores and two freshman.
“I’m not sure if they will all come back next year, but they are so talented,” Moniz said.
More than 350 runners scurried through the grounds of the Hawaii Prep campus. The notoriously hilly course was made a bit more difficult by some gusty Waimea winds, which could likely be the case again next weekend when upward of 400 athletes — including 43 girls and 45 boys who qualified from the BIIF — are back in Waimea for the HHSAA state championships. It’s the first time since 2012 that the meet will be hosted on the Big Island.
“Not having to get on a plane and sleep in another bed is a great advantage,” Bradley said. “Plus, we have run this course so many times, so we know it well.”
The girls race will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the boys at 9:15 a.m.
