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WAIPI'O - Showing her new form, Elli Brady was back to her winning ways.

Running through injuries most of the season where the defending state champion wasn't even her team's top finisher, the Punahou sophomore found a new stride at Saturday afternoon's Interscholastic League of Honolulu cross country championships at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park.

Brady led from start to finish in winning the girls 3-mile race in 20 minutes, 2.04 seconds to claim her second ILH title and helping her Buffanblu win the team title.

"I'm feeling a lot stronger," Brady said. "In the beginning of the season I had my tendonitis problem. I've come back from that. I feel strong physically and mentally I've gotten my mental state back to where I can compete with the top people in the state."

Brady distanced herself from Hawai'i Baptist's Heidi Nicholls with a mile left in the race. Breanne Ball of 'Iolani finished second in 20:12.15 and Nicholls finish third in 20:16.99.

"I was thinking about how I wanted it to be and I wanted to give it my all no matter what," said Nicholls, who helped HBA finish second in the team standings with 63 points. "It wasn't my plan to be up with her like that. I was really excited for the race, it helped me to push myself and help me to do my best."

Punahou, the defending state champion, had four runners in the top 10 to win the team title with 38 points. Kyleigh Mann was fourth (20:26.67), Melissa Wong was sixth (21:02.11), Jaime Durso was seventh (21:05.79) and Kacie Won was 22nd (22:20.25).

In the boys race, Jordan Thibodeau of Kamehameha won his second straight ILH title in 16:35.44 and helped the Warriors claim the team title.

"The only difference with this year's team and last year's team is the people," said Thibodeau, whose Warriors are the defending state champions. "We all have the same heart, all pushing each other to go as hard as we can."

Kamehameha placed five runners in the top 10 to win with 27 points. Scoring points for the Warriors were Charles Akiona (third, 17:04.63), Joshua Freitas (sixth, 17:36.97), Alexander Ortega (seventh, 17:38.50) and Caleb Acheula (10th, 17:50.74).

Troy Esaki of 'Iolani was second in 16:57.97� and helped the Raiders finish second with 62 points.

The state championships will be held at the same course on Thursday at 9 a.m.


ILH Championships
At Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park
Saturday
3 miles

BOYS

Team: 1, Kamehameha 27. 2, Iolani 62. 3, Punahou 79. 4, Mid-Pacific 101. 5, Hawai'i Baptist 120. 6, Saint Louis 167. 7, Pac-Five 210. 8, Lanakila Baptist 223. 9, Damien 250. 10, Hanalani 276.

Individual: 1, Jordan Thibodeau, Kam, 16:35.44. 2, Troy Esaki, Iol, 16:57.97. 3, Charles Akiona, Kam, 17:04.63. 4, Ryan Hobson, MPI, 17:28.35. 5, Colton Sisler, StL, 17:34.02. 6, Joshua Freitas, Kam, 17:36.97. 7, Alexander Ortega, Kam, 17:38.50. 8, Justin Higa, Iol, 17:39.09. 9, Nikolai Scharer, Pun, 17:44.27. 10, Caleb Achuela, Kam, 17:50.74.

GIRLS

Team: 1, Punahou 38. 2, Hawai'i Baptist 63. 3, Kamehameha 68. 4, 'Iolani 70. 5, Pac-Five 93. 6, La Pietra 184.

Individual: 1, Elli Brady, Pun, 20:02.04. 2, Breanne Ball, Iol, 20:12.15. 3, Heidi Nicholls, HBA, 20:16.99. 4, Kyleigh Mann, Pun, 20:26.67. 5, Jessica Johnson, Kam, 20:51.35. 6, Melissa Wong, Pun, 21:02.11. 7, Jaime Durson, Pun, 21:05.79. 8, Hana Tomozawa, Iol, 21:36.92. 9, Elise Uyehara, HBA, 21:40.61. 10, Aimee Uyehara, HBA, 21:43.26.