Course Maps and Parking Information | Big West Feature on UH/Camille Campos

KAHUKU, O'ahu - The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine cross country team will begin its foray into postseason competition on Saturday, as hosts to the 2016 Big West Cross Country Championships. The conference meet is scheduled for Oct. 29 with the women's 6k race slated for 7:45 a.m. at Kahuku Golf Course on O'ahu's north shore.

The men's race is scheduled to open the meet at 7:00 a.m.

Previously configured as a 5k course on the north shore golf site, Kahuku GC's path has been modified to facilitate the women's 6k and men's 8k races. The race path will largely be run on Kahuku's fairways, with some crossover into the rough and around the course's sand hazards. This will be the third race run by the Rainbow Wahine on the site this season, including UH's own Big Wave Invitational, in which UH finished second in September. In the Big West format, nine participants will compete per team, with the first five finishers counted towards team scoring.

This year's championship meet will mark the first time since 2011 that Hawai'i has hosted a conference cross country championship, and only the fourth time in the program's history. The Rainbow Wahine served last as host to the 2011 Western Athletic Conference Championships at the Kane'ohe Klipper Golf Course.

Saturday will be a crucial test for Hawai'i frontrunner Camille Campos, who has paced the Rainbow Wahine in each of her five meets this campaign, twice resetting the 6k program record thanks to consistent  improvements. The Bakersfield, Calif. sophomore holds the top time in the Big West this year at 20:03.4, produced on Oct. 15 at the Bronco Invitational. Giving her some added push will be Cal Poly's equally-phenomenal sophomore Payton Bilo, who has run consistently in the low-20s, topping out at 20:05.4. Also a force to be dealt with, 2015 BWC Champion Faith Makau has proved strong in her junior season at UC Riverside, but has been outshined at times by classmate Weslie Totten, who holds a top time of 20:47.

In last year's championships in Riverside, Calif., the Rainbow Wahine showed dramatic improvement to rise to seventh place, but the prospects are even stronger this season. Campos was the fourth finisher for UH at 47th a year ago. Topping that scoring group was Montana Martinez in 22nd – the Harbor City, Calif. junior has been a steady presence as UH's No. 2 in 2016, producing career bests in two of the last three meets, including a top time of 21:13.1. Tualatin, Ore. senior Alli Cross has been in Martinez' wake at every turn this season, including a career-topping 21:23.6 last time out in Santa Clara.

The final two scoring positions have been stable for the Rainbow Wahine this year, with freshman Maddie Fuhrman (Silverton, Ore.) proving a constant through consistent time drops along her rookie campaign, highlighted by a 22:06.5 mark in her last meet. Sophomore Tristan Setzer (Sherwood Park, Alberta) is also fresh off a PR, logging a 22:23.7 at the Bronco Invite for her fifth scoring performance in as many meets.

Looking to rise up and join the UH scorers, sophomore Haley Beaumont, sophomore Giovanna Casazza, senior Caitlyn Foss and freshman Kai Hoshijo round out the Hawai'i competition squad. Foss will be competing in her fourth Big West Championships this weekend.

2016 Meet #8
What: Big West Cross Country Championships
Date: Saturday, Oct. 29
Time: Men's 8k: 7:00 a.m. (HT); women's 6k: 7:45 a.m. (HT)
Where: Kahuku Golf Course; 56-501 Kamehameha Highway; Kahuku, O'ahu
UH Competitors: Haley Beaumont, Camille Campos, Giovanna Casazza, Alli Cross, Caitlyn Foss, Maddie Fuhrman, Kai Hoshijo, Montana Martinez, Tristan Setzer