Punahou cross-country runner Eri Macdonald is receiving national exposure for the first time as a result of her victory in the Oregon Trail Invitational a few weeks ago. Macdonald’s win
By Pat Bigold
in Oregon stunning
Star-BulletinIn a feature story in the Runners' World online magazine (www.runnersworld.com), writer Marc Bloom calls Macdonald's win at the Sept. 6 meet in Vale, Oregon, "stunning."
Bloom pointed out that one of the runners Macdonald destroyed in the 92-degree heat had actually reached the finals of last year's Foot Locker postseason national competition.
Lisa Whiting, the top runner for Mountain View High of Utah, the country's third ranked girls' team, finished far behind Macdonald in sixth place on the steaming 5-kilometer course (3.1 miles).
Susan Werner, a highly recruited runner from Boise, Idaho, also considered to be among the top 50 runners in the nation in preseason, finished third behind Macdonald.
Macdonald mastered the Vale course despite the fact that Hawaii girls are limited to the 2-mile distance in competition.
"I'd say she is probably among the top 30 or 40 in the country, based on that performance," said Bloom last week in a phone interview.
Besides contributing to Runners' World, Bloom is also senior writer and publisher of The Harrier's High School Cross-Country Report, now in its 22nd year of publication.
Macdonald, who is only a junior but has already won two state cross-country titles, will open her Interscholastic League of Honolulu season at Punahou on Saturday in an eight-team meet that starts at 9 a.m.
She is the daughter of former U.S. 5,000-meter record holder Duncan Macdonald.
Meets will also be held at Aiea, Leilehua and Pearl City Saturday morning, all beginning at 9 a.m.
MEET RESET: The site and date of the 1997 Honolulu Marathon/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championship Meet have been reset due to a conflict with the MasterCard PGA Grand Slam Tournament on Kauai.
HHSAA executive director Dwight Toyama said that the meet, which was originally set for Nov. 21 at Kukuilono, has been rescheduled to Nov.22 at Waiakea High on the Big Island.
Toyama said that because of the PGA event at Poipu Bay on Nov. 17-18, which will feature Tiger Woods, it would've been impossible to reserve sufficient transportation for the athletes. He said rentals are tied up for two to three weeks after the pro tournament.
The site, which was prepared by HHSAA wrestling tournament sponsor DataHouse (internet consultants), will feature information about state tournaments and other sports activities, including football.
HHSAA executive director Dwight Toyama announced the launching of the association's first website this week in a press release.
Toyama said he hopes to add features and will seek suggestions for content, which can be viewed worldwide.
He plans to establish an advisory council of media, business and other community representatives to help maintain the site.
The St. Louis football program will also be launching a site in the near future, featuring team player profiles, individual statistics, game notes and other information about the National Prep Football Poll's No. 5-ranked team.
The second week will shift to Aloha Stadium where four games will be played on Oct. 30-31. The semifinals will be played Nov. 6-7 and the championship will be held Nov. 14.
There is talk of a concert, possibly at halftime of the title game, which will be televised by Oceanic, but nothing has been confirmed.
Past OIA championship concerts have featured acts like the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and Kapena.