HILO, Hawai'i – It was a tight race that got as close as it could get with two teams tied in points atop the results as Hawai'i Hilo Women's Cross Country was narrowly edged via tiebreaker Saturday morning at the Hawai'i Hilo Invitational at the Grand Naniloa Resort Banyans Golf Course.

Both the Vulcans and Chaminade finished tied with 38 points, but the Silverswords took the team victory via head-to-head placement tiebreaker (comparing individual placements in order for each team). Chaminade had its first, second and fifth finishers place ahead of Hawai'i Hilo's, while the Vulcans had their third and fourth finishers with a higher rank.

Isabel Raymond again led the Vulcans with a No. 3 overall finish followed by Maggi Morrell and Megan Donovan right behind in order. Donovan recorded a new 6k personal best, beating her previous time by a minute and a half set at last year's Western Washington Bill Roe Classic.

"The team worked together. We planned for this last week and they executed well," second-year Vulcans head coach Alan Ryan said. "We had some sickness and injuries but we persevered and it was a good day."

As the Vulcans' lone home event of the season, Donovan was honored as the team's lone senior following the race. Donovan was a four-year member of the Hawai'i Hilo Women's Soccer team from 2020-2023 and earned a bachelor's of Business Administration – Marketing last fall, but returned for another semester of competition in cross country.

"Her leadership skills and competitive attitude is changing this program," Ryan said.

Chaminade's Maria Steinke and Nikiji Dayse again took the top two individual spots.

In the men's 8k race, Chaminade's Peter Ramos took the individual win with a time of 29:20.25, but HPU secured the team victory with runners placing in slots No. 2-5.

UP NEXT

Hawai'i Hilo will have a quick turnaround before ending its regular season with the Sharks Open next Saturday, Oct. 12, 7 a.m. on O'ahu.

Pacific West Conference Championships meet is set for Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.