Hale Kula Elementary School hosts cross-country meet; Soloman wins event
Jan Iwase
Hale Kula Elementary School
SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — More than 220 third- through fifth-grade students from five elementary schools within the Leilehua Complex participated in the seventh annual Hale Kula Invitational Cross-Country Meet, Sept. 29, here.
Runners ran the three-quarter mile course, while being cheered on by students, parents and friends, and being led by Joshua Castro, cross-country runner for Leilehua High School.
Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, volunteered to serve as timekeepers among other tasks.
“I want to continue exposing as many students as possible to the sport of cross-country,” said Jerry Bevacqua, meet coordinator and physical education teacher, Hale Kula Elementary School. “Running is a lifelong, healthy activity, which should be encouraged in our youth. Hopefully, Stoneman Field (at Schofield Barracks) and surrounding fields will be ready next year.”
This event was the most competitive yet, to date, and when the points were totaled, Solomon Elementary School emerged victorious.
All of the participants are winners for completing the course and making running a part of their healthy lives.
Hale Kula Invitational Cross-Country Meet Top Finishers
Grade 3
- Girls
First – Aaliyah Pyatt, SES
Second – Emma Mussante, WES
Third – Kaylee Jerome, HES
- Boys
First – Cristian Delgado, SES
Second – Nathaniel Robinson, SES
Third – Demetric Jones, SES
Grade 4
- Girls
First – Eliana Battle, WES
Second – Riley Hester, HKES
Third – Kira Garcia, HKES
- Boys
First – Donovin Sykes, SES
Second – Alexander Bacon, HKES
Third – Tremayne Vincent, WES
Grade 5
- Girls
First – Natalie Sartain, HKES
Second – Olivia Burns, HKES
Third – Xia Howard, HKES
- Boys
First – Drake Gilmore, SES
Second – Weston Myers, HKES
Third – Will Merkins, HKES
HKES: Hale Kula Elementary School
WES: Wahiawa Elementary School
HES: Helemano Elementary School
SES: Soloman Elementary School