DODEA-Pacific runners from schools like Humphreys, Osan and Daegu will run alongside runners from non-DODEA schools such as Korea's Gyeonggi Suwon International on Monday and Tuesday in the Far East and Asia-Pacific Invitational meets. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Call this week’s Far East cross country meet one of a kind, as far as the total number of athletes expected at the two-day event.
The annual DODEA-Pacific event for distance runners is being combined this year with the annual Asia-Pacific Invitational meet for non-DODEA international schools, DODEA and API organizers said.
As many as 400 runners from 12 DODEA-Pacific and 25 international schools are expected, according to longtime Kanto Plain meet marshal Nathaniel Rudd of Christian Academy Japan and Far East organizer Edward Fogell of Nile C. Kinnick.
“I love it for our runners,” longtime Kinnick coach Luke Voth said. “It’s a larger field of athletes and I think that’s more reflective of what an actual championship meet would be like in the States. I hope it turns out to be a positive experience for everyone.”
The two sides came to an agreement on running the meets together. It will be held at the Risol no Mori resort and athletic complex near the east coast of Chiba Prefecture, about two hours east of Tokyo.
“It’s a great opportunity to see how well they run against the international schools,” said coach Brad Cramer of defending Division II school champion Matthew C. Perry.
Cramer’s concern, he said, is the number of runners on a relatively small course. It’s a 1,500-meter circular track, featuring 800 meters of wooded trail, 630 meters across a soccer field and 70 meters on pavement.
“That’s a lot of kids for a small area,” Cramer said. “It’s going to definitely be a challenge.”
The meet will be run over two days, the 3.12-mile individual race on Monday afternoon, the girls race first followed by the boys, and the 6.24-mile team relay on Tuesday morning.
With the eyes and iPhones of spectators all around, Humphreys sophomore Cassandra Jarzabek charges across the finish line in a Pacific-record time of 17 minutes, 58.0 seconds during Saturday’s Korea regular-season ending meet earlier this month. (Humphreys cross country)
Nile C. Kinnick senior Mia Bartram leaves Robert D. Edgren freshman Reagan Keller behind during a DODEA-Japan cross country race in September. Bartram and Keller finished 1-2. (David Shepherd/Special to Stripes)
Nile C. Kinnick’s Talan Farrington set a course record during a DODEA-Japan cross country meet in September at Misawa Air Base. (David Shepherd/Special to Stripes)
Kadena’s William Rhoades sprints toward the finish of an Okinawa boys cross country race in September at Cape Zampa. Rhoades won with a time of 17 minutes, 44.47 seconds. (Heather Mendoza/Special to Strip)
DODEA’s contingent features the Pacific girls record holder, sophomore Cassandra Jarzabek of Humphreys, who ran her home course in 17 minutes, 58 seconds a week ago.
Senior Simon Nakamura of CAJ is the Pacific’s fastest boys runner in 15:47.7, and should be the API meet’s headliner.
Voth feels his Red Devils should be competitive, especially on the girls side with their longtime leader Mia Bartram. “But I think Humphreys girls are the leading team to beat,” he said.
“If we’re talking strictly Far East, the boys teams are evenly matched across most of the schools,” Voth said. “If we include API teams, the (American School In Japan) boys remain the perennial powerhouse.”
Kadena coach Abe Summers feels the Far East side will be close.
“I think it will come down to which runners can run their best on that course,” Summers said, adding that his Panthers gained much with their in-season visit to Yokota. “I think our boys are very close to Kinnick.”
For her part, Jarzabek says she wants to make amends for what she termed a sub-par performance at last year’s Far East meet at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan.
“Maybe set the Far East meet record,” Jarzabek said. “That’s my encore.”
Far East Cross Country Meet
Monday, Oct. 21-Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Risol no Mori athletics facility, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
Participating schools — Division I: Guam High Panthers, Kadena Panthers, Kubasaki Dragons, Nile C. Kinnick Red Devils, Humphreys Blackhawks. Division II: Yokota Panthers, E.J. King Cobras, Matthew C. Perry Samurai, Robert D. Edgren Eagles.
Format — 3.12-mile individual race on Monday. Team relay on Tuesday.
Season bests
Boys
1, Simon Nakamura, Christian Academy Japan, 15 minutes, 47.7 seconds; 2, Talan Farrington, Kinnick, 15:50.4; 3, Ben Cox, ASIJ, 16:01.6; 4, Kyle Durkee, ASIJ, 16:10.5; 5, Kai Terada, ASIJ, 16:11.5; 6, William Rhoades, Kadena, 16:11.8; 7, Philipp Lehr, ASIJ, 16:35.6; 8, Franklin Richter, St. Mary’s, 16:43.0; 9, Jerimiah Williams, Kadena, 16:48.9; 10, Yuto Takeda, St. Mary’s, 16:50.6.
Girls
1, Cassandra Jarzabek, Humphreys, 18 minutes, 36.6 seconds; 2, Madeline Payne, Seoul Foreign, 18:45.6; 3, Mia Bartram, Kinnick, 19:50.7; 4, Lydia Ro, Yongsan International-Seoul, 19:57.0; 5, Julia Schouw, ASIJ, 20:06.1; 6, Chloe Parker, Humphreys, 20:16.0; 7, Chaitra Konda, Christian Academy Japan, 20:22.1; 8, Annelise Parker, 20:28.2; 9, Lauren Cabradilla, Kinnick, 20:34.0; 10, Reagan Keller, Edgren, 20:37.3.
