KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — Don’t use the word “dynasty” around Kadena cross country coach Tom McKinney. “Defending champion” also is strictly verboten.
Despite winning the past two Far East team titles and returning six of eight All-Far East runners, McKinney insists his squad is chasing new goals instead of defending old ones.
“You’re pursuing. You never say ‘defending,’” McKinney said two days before his Panthers opened defense of their Okinawa Activities Council title at Camp Hansen.
He and the Panthers could be forgiven if they took another tack entering the season.
After winning the 2002 team championship (Far East cross country meets were held biennially until 2004, when they became annual) Kadena improved on that feat last year by capturing every Far East honor imaginable. The team took both individual 3.1-mile races, the team relay, and the boys, girls and overall team titles. All eight Panthers runners garnered All-Far East honors.
Is it time to start thinking of affixing the “dynasty” label to the Panthers’ black-and-gold jerseys? Try a big bull’s-eye instead, runners and coach say.
“We never look back. That’s [the] past,” McKinney said. “We look at what [we] can obtain this year. … Just because you bring back [six All-Far East] runners doesn’t mean anything’s guaranteed.”
“You can’t look back on other championships,” said senior Dianne Abel, who finished third in the girls Far East race. “You’re starting off fresh.”
The Panthers will do that, led by defending individual champion Niki Kauzlarich and returning All-Far East runners Abel, sophomore Victoria Lyle, junior Katelin Kennedy and seniors Aaron Zendejas, and Tim Nabonne.
McKinney’s supporting cast includes one sophomore, Ben Zendejas, who earned OAC All-Island honors along with the other six. All told, the Panthers bring 43 runners to the table, part of a successful tradition building on itself, McKinney said.
“People come out and say they know they may not make the top team, but they want to be a part,” he said.
Depth is an important component in any cross country program, said one opposing coach.
“It’s such an unbelievable advantage,” said Andre Thibert, coach of Robert D. Edgren, the host of this year’s Far East meet. “If one kid gets sick or hurt, you can plug somebody into his spot. And competition within the team makes it that much stronger. If you only have five or six kids, you can’t do that.”
While Kadena might seem to carry the label of “team to beat” entering the OAC season and Far East, individual race honors might be up for grabs, if the field of returning runners is an indicator.
Thibert, who fields a team of 23, returns lanky Peter Kamau, who finished third in the boys race. His squad includes Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Japan girls champion Jade Thrasher.
Nile C. Kinnick, second overall last year, returns All-Far East runners Matthew Duncan and Carl-Meisha Wourman. Seoul American’s strong girls program, including All-Far East runners Cathryn Furner and Sarah Yance, welcomes Billy Groves from a Taegu American squad that placed a surprising sixth last year.
McKinney views Seoul American as the Panthers’ biggest threat.
“They’re going to be gunning for us,” he said. “They were the top [DODDS] team on the peninsula. They know what we have. All the teams know what we have.”
Runners to watch in DODDS cross countryTim Nabonne, Kadena, Okinawa, All-Far East team, All-Okinawa Activities Council, fourth in Far East boys 3.1-mile individual race, 17 minutes, 46 seconds.
Aaron Zendejas, Kadena, Okinawa, All-Far East team, All-Okinawa, fifth in boys 3.1-mile individual race, 18:05.
Matthew Duncan, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan, All-Far East team, All-DODDS-Japan, sixth in boys 3.1-mile individual race, 18:08.
Peter Kamau, Robert D. Edgren, All-Far East team, All-DODDS Japan, ninth in boys 3.1-mile individual race, 18:19.
Niki Kauzlarich, Kadena, Okinawa, All-Far East team, All-Okinawa, girls 3.1-mile individual race champion, 20:45.
Cathryn Furner, Seoul American, South Korea, All-Far East team, All-Korea, girls 3.1-mile individual race runner-up, 21:01.
Dianne Abel, Kadena, Okinawa, Stars and Stripes co-Athlete of the Year, All-Far East team, All-Okinawa, third in girls 3.1-mile individual race, 21:13.
Sarah Yance, Seoul American, South Korea, All-Far East team, All-Korea, fourth in girls 3.1-mile individual race, 21:14.
Beth Nielsen, Kubasaki, Okinawa, All-Far East team, All-Okinawa, fifth in girls 3.1-mile individual race, 21:29.
Victoria Lyle, Kadena, Okinawa, All-Far East team, All-Okinawa, sixth in girls 3.1-mile individual race, 21:35.
Katelin Kennedy, Kadena, Okinawa, All-Far East team, All-Okinawa, eighth in girls 3.1-mile individual race, 21:46.
Carl-Meisha Wourman, Nile C. Kinnick, Japan, All-Far East team, All-DODDS-Japan, ninth in girls 3.1-mile individual race, 22:09.
