Cross Country Makes YISStory at API Guam

This October 19-21, our varsity cross country team had the opportunity to compete at the Asia Pacific Invitational in Guam. This race attracts some of the top runners in Asia and the Pacific and offers a great chance for our team to experience some unique courses and great competition. With many returnees on the team, the Guardians attacked the courses like veterans and set records for YISS’s most successful showing at API in program history.

In the 5km races on Friday, the YISS girls’ team made up of Sylvia L. (12),  Ashley S. (12), Lydia R. (11), Claire L. (11), Kaiden H. (10), Sia K. (10), and Caroline R. (9) combined their scores to take home the 2nd place trophy. Since YISS began attending this event in 2006, this is the highest place finish a YISS team has ever received. The YISS boys’ team consisting of Souhoon L. (12), Nadav T. (11), Joshua K. (10), Jeremiah R. (10), Henry R. (10), Ian K. (9), and Zion R. (9) placed 6th out of 18 teams.

For individual honors, Lydia R. (3rd place), Claire L. (8th place), Kaiden H. (10th place), and Ian K. (14th place) each took home All-Island Honors for their top-15 finishes. Lydia R. had the honor of being the first Guardian runner to ever step on the API podium with a 3rd place finish. 

In the co-ed relay on Saturday, our runners partnered up for 2.5km laps along the beach. Each team ran across the sand, up and down hills, through the surf, and then finished in the water. The top relay teams for the Guardians were Lydia R. & Ian K. (3rd place), Claire L. & Joshua K. (8th place), and Kaiden H. & Nadav T. (15th place). The YISS relay teams combined to earn 4th place for the day, capping off a memorable and successful trip.