KEAAU — Waiakea’s Saya Yabe has finished first before, but never like this.
While she gained a new perspective, Konawaena’s Lawrence Barrett and Cody Ranfranz and all of the BIIF boys cross-country runners discovered an entire new racing world — one that doesn’t include the thankless task of going up against Louie Ondo.
If the results of Saturday’s preseason Canefire Conditioner are any indication, it’s game on this season in the individual and team races. Waiakea swept both relays. Yabe and the Warriors girls relegated Hawaii Prep to a rare runner-up finish and the boys did it without Ondo, who never lost a race the past two seasons before graduating.