September 21, 2002 at Kualoa Ranch
windward Oahu, Hawaii

Girls Varsity - Ricky's Quotes

text and photos by Ricky Quintana

Ruth Graham did not seem deterred despite a bad sunburn she had received
the previous day while snorkeling on Hawaii¹s North Shore. Running well
within herself, Graham was able to hold off a late charge by Bingham¹s Kit
Zeigle to win the girls varsity division of the Iolani Invitational at
Kualoa Ranch on Hawaii¹s North Shore.

Beginning on a field just below the picturesque mountain range, the Clovis
East girls team immediately took the lead at the gun. The first 400 meters
took the field through some cow pastures before a steep ascent up into the
foothills that carried them to the first kilo. Clovis' top two continued to
lead as Graham hung back in fourth. The Eisenhower and Montgomery girls
team's pack were obvious as they follwed Clovis¹ leaders and made their way
up the hill. Kit Zeigle was surprisingly far back in 30th place or so.
After the ascent, Graham regained the lead on the long down hill towards the
pastures. Graham, Eisnenhower¹s top four and Montgomery¹s Kim Handle and
Carina Hendricks comprised the lead pack.

By 2 miles, Graham was in control as she methodically made her way through
the oppressive heat and dust which was being kicked up the runners. Another
steep climb kept the Montgomery girls at bay and Graham extended her lead.
The Eisenhower team¹s top four followed. Kit Zeigle was making up tremendous
ground over the hilly course and was now in ninth place and gaining with
every one of her very long strides.

Graham was able to hold on though despite Zeigle¹s late fast running.
Eisenhower¹s top four finished high, but Montgomery took it to a tie breaker
and evetually won leaving Eisnehower¹s team consoling one of their teammates
who was brought to tears at the announcement.

Ruth Graham

RQ: How was the race?

Graham: It was hot. It was Ok for my first race of the season.

RQ: You went out in the back and then worked your way up.

Graham: Yes. I didn¹t really know how fast the other people were so I just
came in to just race and see what happened.

RQ: Did you ever sense Kit Zeigle catching you?

Graham: Kind of. The first time I went around I felt her behind me, but
after the second hill, I didn¹t hear her anymore.

RQ: Yesterday you went snorkleing and were telling me at breakfast.you got a little
burnt.

Graham: My sunburn hurts a lot. It¹s my first time here.

RQ: What has your experience been like here in Hawaii?

Graham: It¹s been great. I¹ve never been to a place this beautiful. It¹s
really amazing. I like the weather even though it was a little humid. It¹s
perfect. I was kind of sweaty, but I was able to push through it. I really liked the
beaches. It¹s amazing that the water is so warm. It was fun. It was really
fun.

RQ: You had the option of going to Stanford next week or coming here. Was
that a big decision?

Graham: Not really if I can go to Hawaii for the first time. Last year, I
won the Stanford Invitational. The only drawback I¹d say is that Stanford
has much better depth of competition. There are really fast runners coming
from all over the state. That would have been a good place to see where I¹m
at against the other runners, but this is fine. I really don¹t care. It¹s
early in the season.

Kit Zeigle

RQ: You went out really slow and then you were right there.

Kit Zeigle: I knew if you went all out, you were going to lose it. It¹s
like Footlocker West. You have to save some and you¹ve got to be positive
and God helped me to think positive.

RQ: How was the course?

Zeigle: It's my kind of course. I have a lot of strength. I like it when
it¹s a challenge. I don¹t like it when it¹s easy going.

RQ: Are you pleased with your performance?

Zeigle: Well, I think God gave me the strength to do what I did. I know I¹ll
come back at Footlocker West. That¹s the next race I¹m looking forward to so
we¹ll see. My goal is to make it to Footlocker. I know I can do it. I have to do
evrything right. I have eat properly and train properly with my coach who
knows how to train us.

RQ: How was it coming here from Utah?

Zeigle: It¹s awesome. Our coach and his wife put it together and they did
awesome. It¹s probably the best trip I¹ve ever had in my life. Yesterday we
went scuba diving and then we came home and went to the
Lua Festival they had. Thursday, the day before, we went to a Polynesian
Cultural Center and the BYU campus. Tomorrow we go to Pearl Harbor and the
Missouri. It¹s been amazing.

Julie Baird

RQ: Your team ran really well and finished in a huge pack.

Julie Baird: We like to run as a pack. We do it in practice. Every week we
switch and there¹s always someone else who¹s the better runner.

RQ: What does it feel like to have that kind of support behind you?

Baird: It¹s great. I usually don¹t have teammates behind me. I¹m usually the
third or fourth runnner. The last couple of races I¹ve been number one. It¹s
great to know that I have my teammates. I can use them and they can use me.
We run as one and try to help each other.
It feels good to know that my team is doing well when I can see them behind
me.

RQ: What is it like coming here from Washington?

Baird: It¹s been wonderful I feel like I¹ve gained a lot running cross
country especially from my team. Not many people get the opporunity to come
to Hawaii. It¹s just wonderful.

Kim Handle

Kim Handle: I just wanted to start out and see how I felt. Karina and I were
together for about a mile or so and I felt pretty strong so I just kept
going. I felt pretty good.

RQ: How was the course?

Handle: The heat didn¹t bother me that much. I just wanted to see how I
felt. The last hill was really tough, but then it kind of flattened out and
then I went strong down the hill. That¹s what I tried to do.

RQ: Coming from Santa Rosa, you are used to these kind of hills, aren't you?

Handle: Yes, we have a lot of hills. The heat was kind of a shock, but we
have some hot days so it wasn¹t too bad.

RQ: Being team captain, what is your impression of your team and being out
here in Hawaii?

Handle: This is actually only my second year of cross country and I¹m still
learning a lot. A lot of them have been doing it a lot longer than I have.
I¹m really excited just to have a chance to come out here. We put a lot of
work into getting here. We wanted to do the best that we could.

RQ: How has it been finally being here?

Handle: It¹s been really fun. We¹ve been going to the beach a lot. We¹ve
been having a great time. We¹re just going to relax the next two days.

RQ: Actually being able to enjoy the water must be a good change?

Handle: Yes. It¹s dfeinitely nice when you go to the beach and people can be
in the water for three hours straight. It¹s a pretty nice change compared to
California water. It¹s sad. It¹s a little cold up there.

Nicole Anderson

Nicole Anderson, Iolani School, 6th Place, first Hawaiian: It was fun. Very
fun.

RQ: You had a home course advantage.

Anderson: Yeah, I¹m used to the heat.

RQ: How was it competing against the mainlanders?

Anderson: It was fun because there are a lot more people to push you. It¹s
definitely more competitive. It made it more exciting. It¹s better to have
someone to run with than being by yourself.

RQ: Were you intimidated?

Anderson: I was scared before. Really scared. I¹ve been nervous since last
week.

RQ: How does it feel now that it¹s all said and done?

Anderson: It¹s a really good feeling. I feel relieved.

RQ: What is it like for these team to come over from the mainland?

Anderson: You kind of want to welcome them and make them feel at home.
They're not used to it. It¹s really exciting having everybody here because
you really don¹t know anybody. Usually, you know all the people who are at
the meet. Here, there are tons of new people and faces. It¹s a big
difference.

Josh Dorris

Josh Dorris, Montgomery High Girls¹s Head XC Coach: I haven¹t seen the
results, so the win is a surpise.

RQ: You went out conservative. Was that the plan?

Dorris: We weren¹t too sure about the heat. We¹ve been staying up late
pretty late and having fun. I wasn¹t really expecting too much from the
girls today. We¹re over here to have fun more than anything. The running
took kind of a back seat. The training has been nothing the last couple of
days. A lot of surfing, a lot of swimming, and a lot of time in the sun. I¹m
pretty surprised we won this.
I knew quite a bit about Eisnehower, but not too much about Bingham. I
wasn¹t sure what to expect from them.
Eisenhower went out strong from start to finish. We¹re pretty lucky to beat
them. A couple our girls had a bad day and we still won. That¹s amazing.

RQ: How was the course and the meet itself?

Dorris: This is our second trip. The course is different. We used to do a
loop in the back. It was a little more of an elevation gain. It was fine. It
was well organized. I liked the chip timing idea.

RQ: What is one of the reasons you came back?

Dorris: The reason we came back is that it is a fun trip. These kids train
year round and this is a reward for them. I wanted them to come to Hawaii
and experience something different. Get away from the normal wear and tear
of every day training. Just to have some fun really.
It sounds like it¹s starting to become a big meet. They¹re pulling in some
great schools. We¹re glad to be a part of it this year.

Jeff Arbogast

Jeff Arbogast: Historically, the kids have traveled really well. Our
district has been really undertanding as far as being able to support the
kids. It was a little difficult after 911. It was a little challenge just
getting here. We¹ve been working since May.

Financially, it wasn¹t that big of a deal. It was just getting permission to
travel. We got good deals on the travel. The kids have had a wonderful time
and it¹s a shame that you have to work so hard to get here because it¹s such
a great experience for the kids. They¹ ve really had a blast. From the start
through tomorrow. They¹ve really had a great time. It¹s been fantastic.

RQ:It was hot for them coming from Utah, but they seemed to take it in
stride.

Arbogast: They train in some pretty rough conditions. The hills and things
are not as rough as what they are used to. They¹ve seen long hills. That¹s
not intimidating.
The heat is factor for them, but they realize with the heat comes these
fantastic views, the ocean and the other stuff. Frankly, if you compare this
to North Carolina the past few years, it¹s been worse in North Carolina.
It¹s hotter and wetter than it is here. It¹s not that big of a deal. It¹s
OK.
They ran as well as they can run. Our boys did well in the JV where they
scored a perfect score, but in the varsity they got second or third becasue
they¹re young. We¹ll get better and better. We have some kids coming up.
We¹ll lose the kid who finished fourth, but there are a ton of kids behind
him. It¹s one of those deals where it goes up and down. It¹s like riding the
surf in the wave. You¹re in the trough or you are on the crest. We¹re kind
of coming up to the crest here. In couple more years. They¹re a little young
right now.
That¹s why we ran so well in the JV, but were a little far back in the
varsity. They ran as hard as they can go. They ran hard to then and some
just blew their lunch so that¹s all we could ask of them.
The girls were strong, but we did have to leave three of our seven just
couldn¹t make the trip because of money and stuff like that. They¹re not as
strong. I don¹t think we could have beat the teams even if we had those
kids here. It may have affected the standings a position or two, but not
much. We graduated a lot and our girls aren¹t as strong as they¹ve been the
last few years.
It¹s been fun time. They¹ve been up and down the streets taking pictures of
guys. Some of them look like you. They may come and take a picture of you.

Iolani Invitational results