CROSS COUNTRY STARTS THE ’25/’26 SPORTS SEASON

By Shania Bulala

The 2025 IIAAG/ISA Cross Country League officially kicked off on Monday, August 25th, with opening meets hosted at George Washington High School and Guam High School. This season features a total of thirteen teams, split between two venues for regular-season competition before uniting at the All-Island Championships.

At the George Washington campus, the Geckos welcomed a competitive field that included the Okkodo Bulldogs, JFK Islanders, Tiyan Titans, and Southern Dolphins. Making history, the Business & Tech Academy Charter School and Majesty Christian School both made their league debuts, officially expanding the ISA cross-country landscape.

Medrano Leads Islander Sweep in Boys Division
The Islanders wasted no time establishing their dominance in the boys division. The trio of Stephen Medrano, Arby Carpo, and Christian Hautea dictated the pace from the opening mile, separating themselves early from the rest of the pack. Medrano showcased his finishing strength in the closing stretch, crossing the finish with a time of 18:44. Carpo followed in second, and Hautea rounded out the podium in third, completing a commanding sweep for the Islanders.

“The weather today was perfect for this race. I had my teammates (Christian Hautea and Arby Carpo) to push me throughout the course and finish strong,” said Medrano, who credited the team effort for their dominant showing.

Decano Opens Season with Statement Win
The girls race featured an intense back-and-forth battle between front runners, Islanders’ Michaloe Decano and Geckos’ Gwenizah Barcinas. From the opening stretch, the two matched each other stride for stride. Decano managed to dig deep and surge past Barcinas in the final meters, claiming the victory in 22:31 with Barcinas crossing at 23:04. 

“I’ve been training really hard for this. I try my best to stay motivated no matter the circumstances,” reflected Decano. “Coming into this race, I knew I needed to keep my pace for the beginning and eventually push it toward the end and finish strong.”

The Islanders’ dominant performances in both the boys and girls divisions established them as early favorites in the league. Next week’s meets will be held on Tuesday at the Two Lovers Point course and also at John F. Kennedy High School.