There were few surprises at yesterday's ILH Cross Country championships at Central Oahu Regional Park. Favorites Haley Abing and Matthew Nakamoto won individual crowns for the second straight year in very different fashions.

Punahou, which has won the last three team state titles, captured the league girls' championship by edging Pac-Five with 49 points. The Buffanblu were led by sophomore Julia Brand, who finished fifth at 20 minutes and 38 seconds, and placed five other runners in the top 16. Kamehameha finished third, just four points behind Pac-Five.

'Iolani claimed the boys championship by posting 32 team points, with five athletes finishing in the top 10, led by Troy Esaki (second, 17:31) and Tyler Mulloy (third, 17:38).

The top 41 boys and girls runners at yesterday's event qualified for next week's Honolulu Marathon Cross Country State Championships, to be held on the campus of Hawaii Prep Academy on the Big Island.

Abing followed a well-choreographed plan to capture the ILH girls' race, edging Pac-Five teammate Julie Besenbruch in 19 minutes and 46 seconds, bettering her championship time from last year by nearly 7 seconds.

“;My plan was to run with everyone for the first 2 miles,”; Abing said. “;I wanted to go into the last mile in good position and try to go off and try to do it over the final mile.”;

'Iolani's Jenna Wong hurried out to lead the pack after the first mile, with Abing and Besenbruch close behind. By the time the leaders circled around the officials' tent to begin the third and final lap around the hilly course, the Pac-Five pair had separated from the pack, with Besenbruch leading by a body length.

But by the time the duo made the final turn, Abing had established a slight lead and extended it as she sprinted toward the end, collapsing as she crossed the finish line just 7 seconds ahead of Besenbruch, the 2006 state champion.

“;Julie's been really doing really well this season,”; Abing said. “;She took last year off and has come back this year and it's been great. We've been pushing each other all season and it is nice to have such competition with a good friend.”;

Abing, a senior at La Pietra, won her league title last year for Maryknoll, which hosted La Pietra's runners last season. This year, Pac-Five is hosting Abing and her schoolmates.

Hawaii Baptist's Nakamoto repeated as the ILH boys' champion by simply blowing away the rest of the field. From the starting gun it was apparent that Nakamoto was operating at a different gear from the other runners, finishing nearly a full minute ahead of 'Iolani's Esaki at 16 minutes, 45 seconds.

Nakamoto sped out of the start and quickly established control of the race. By the end of the first mile, Nakamoto was already 50 yards ahead of the field. That advantage extended to more than 100 yards by the time he crossed the finish line with fingers pointed skyward.

Like Abing, Nakamoto improved on his winning time from last year, shaving off 5 seconds from his time.

“;I just wanted to run at a comfortable pace for me, and keep it up for all 3 miles,”; Nakamoto said. “;I think I slowed a little toward the end, but overall I think it was a good race for me and the other competitors.”;