 "Photo: Joel Kutaka")
 "Photo: Joel Kutaka")
The Rainbow Wahine cross-country team believes that this season has been the turning point of the program.
Now it’s time to prove it.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, they will travel to Reno, Nev., for the Western Athletic Conference Championships hosted by the University of Nevada.
The ’Bows have finished eighth the last three seasons, but the team’s expectations are high this year.
“We’re looking to going up to fifth or fourth in the WAC,” head coach Carmyn James said. “We’re looking to make a huge leap because of the quality of the athletes (assistant) coach Althea (Belgrave) was able to recruit.”
Two newcomers who have made an impact are senior transfer Jessica Forrester, who was a Division II All-American from the University of Tampa, and junior Ashley Aitken, a transfer from Tulsa.
They have been the ’Bows’ top two finishers this season.
Forrester won the Big Wave Invitational in Kāne‘ohe in September, and Aitken finished sixth at the Bronco Invitational in Sunnyvale, Calif., two weeks ago.
There were 156 runners at the meet, and Aitken beat out athletes from schools such as Stanford, California and Pepperdine. Overall, the Rainbow Wahine placed ninth out of 17 teams.
The Bronco Invitational was also a good indicator of how the ’Bows may do in the WAC Championships, as they finished third among the six WAC schools participating.
“Everyone will see a huge positive change in the program in a couple years,” Forrester said. “We (have improved) every race. We have a chance to be top-three in conference for sure.”
The ’Bows, who are seeded sixth for the championship, will send Forrester, Aitken, senior Tava Tedesco, junior Mariana Monasi, sophomore Liisa Cushing, and freshmen Ashlee Jimenez and Shelby Yoakum.
The improvement in the cross-country team will also help the women’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams when their seasons begin.
James said distance running has been a “puka” on the track and field programs.
EVENT INfo
Rainbow Wahine Cross-Country
Western Athletic Conference Championships
Saturday, Oct. 31
Reno, Nev. (University of Nevada)
10:45 a.m. PT
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