(Photo of Olivia Jarvis courtesy of Jay Metz, UH Athletics)

KAHUKU, Oahu--Host Hawai`i claimed the team trophy and also had the overall winner as five teams opened the 2021 women's cross country season at the Big Wave Invitational at the Kahuku Golf Course.

UH Hilo finished fourth of five teams on the North Shore course and Olivia Jarvis was the Vulcans' top finisher in 17th place. 

"It was an OK race for us," said Vulcan head coach Jaime Guerpo. "We just started practicing and the girls are getting used to racing again. We had a few runners that didn't run and that would have helped our score but overall I liked our effort."

The Rainbow Wahine had four of the top six finishers, including the winner Sophia Morgan who ran away from the field with a time of 19:19 on the five kilometer course. Hawai`i had 24 team points, followed by the University of Pacific with 42, Hawai`i Pacific with 71, UH Hilo 111 and Chaminade had 143.

Pacific had the second and third place finishers in Emma Winkler (19:31) and Sophie Pazzo (19:50).

Jarvis has been UHH's top finisher in almost every race since her freshman season in 2018 and today was no different. Her time on the grass course was 22:00. The next Vulcan runner to cross the line was Emma Heidelmeier in 23rd place (22:50), followed by Makena Morris in 27th (23:31), LIly Gavagan in 32nd (25:24), freshman Krista Marsh in 33rd (25:30) and Aurea Streadback (39th, 30:05).

The Vulcans will now get back to training with their next race not scheduled until October 2 at the HPU Invite. The UH Hilo Invite, originally scheduled for next weekend, has been moved to October at a date to be determined.

BIG WAVE RESULTS