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

Tags: 25th Infantry Division (ID), education, schools, sports

Category: Community, Education