Eighth. Fifth. Third.

And hopefully, first.

Punahou senior Connor Lehl has consistently been among the top runners in the state. A top-10 finisher at the past three state cross country championships, he placed eighth as a freshman, fifth as a sophomore and third as a junior.

In his final year, Lehl’s eyeing a first-place finish at the state meet on Oct. 29. It’s a goal affirmed by the years of work he’s put in, the mileage of long offseason workouts and what’s transpired in races this year. All season long, Lehl has been the front-runner against local competition. He’s yet to lose a race to a runner from a Hawaii school.

“Goal for this year is definitely to win states,” Lehl said. “I went to the Stanford Invitational two weeks ago and my goal was get a 15:45 for the 5k and I ended beating that by 10 seconds. I was really excited about that.”

At the beginning of the season, he finished second behind Anthony Grover of J Serra Catholic (Calif.) at the ‘Iolani Invitational, the annual meet with local and mainland runners. In late September, he won the Hawaii Preparatory Invitational in 17 minutes, 59.17 seconds, outlasting Kalaheo’s Colby Otero (17:59.45) and Avery Torres (18:17.14). Held on the state course on Hawaii island, the meet attracted the state’s top runners.

The following weekend, he ran at the Stanford Invitational, finishing 28th in a field of California runners with a 5-kilometer time of 15:33.90. Two weeks ago, he won the Punahou Invitational in 16:44.52, 30 seconds ahead of the next runner.

“The (state) course is definitely challenging,” Lehl said. “There’s a big hill you have to run twice and that’s definitely hard. The two Kalaheo guys were pretty close during that race, so that just means it’s not exactly going to be an easy road going into the states, so I’m going to have to push it. I’m not going to be able to let up just yet. The season is still going and they’re close. It’s not going to be an easy race. I’m going to try and do my best.”

Challenged by competition

Lehl spent the past two seasons chasing Kamehameha’s Kaeo Kruse. Running with Kruse, who won the past two ILH and state titles before heading to Harvard, provided the competition Lehl needed to improve on his times.

“I’ve always been in that top range, sort of those top three guys,” said Lehl, last year’s ILH runner-up. “I feel like I’ve been working really hard my whole high school career and I feel I really deserve a shot at the title.”

And with Kruse the top runner until last year, there’s a big spotlight on him and I didn’t really get to showcase what I sort of bring to the table. He’s a great runner, he’s phenomenal. I just want to see what I can do. Maybe I can match his times, who knows, in track or what not.”

Improved mechanics have benefited Lehl, said his coach.

“He’s comes a long way in four years,” coach Duncan Macdonald said. “The thing that he’s doing the best this year is he’s finally learning his mechanics are getting better. He was always a very tight runner, almost forcing it. Now he’s starting to relax and and it’s coming out naturally. He looks a lot more fluid.”

Coaching from experience

Todd Iacovelli, one of Punahou’s coaches, won the program’s last boys state title in 2001. The Buffanblu last won the boys team title in 1996. Could those accolades swing in favor of Punahou at the state meet on Oct. 29? This Saturday’s ILH championship at Mid-Pacific provides an indicator of how the Buffanblu match up against ‘Iolani, the defending state champion.

“I think we’re a pretty solid favorite for second in both meets because of ‘Iolani,” Macdonald said. “I’d like to improve on that and I think he (Lehl) can help us do that. He’s got to have back-up from the rest of the boys on the varsity squad. Hopefully they’ll come through.

“He is a prohibitive favorite. He’s running so well now. He’s been able to handle the competition each week.”

Conquering the hills of Hawaii Prep, the toughest course in the state, is just one factor in winning a state title. Lehl said mental toughness is another asset for the Buffanblu.

“States is going to be a battle,” Lehl said. “It’s between us and ‘Iolani. Our team is always talking about it. We haven’t won a title in almost 20 years. Our team is heavily senior-oriented, so it’s our last chance. Once all the seniors are gone, there’s not going to be that many people left. It’s time to win it now.”

Note

Competing for Kailua, Macdonald won the first two state cross country titles in 1965 and 1966. He’s guided the Punahou girls to all but one state championship since 2005.