For years, Avery Torres heard the words and watched the actions of Kaeo Kruse.

Torres learned well. The Kalaheo senior captured the boys individual race in the Oahu Interscholastic Association cross country championships on Saturday in 16 minutes, 46 seconds.

The closest competitor was teammate Colby Otero, a junior, who completed the course in 17 minutes flat. It wasn’t a personal record for Torres, but he didn’t mind at all. His role model was Kruse, a multiple league champion who graduated last June.

“He’s a good guy. Kaeo had humbleness and he cared about family more than individual,” Torres said. “That’s what I want for my school, to bring back another team championship. I don’t think about PR. It’s hard work and dedication and family. Even when we have no practice, we train together, our boys and girls. Girls running with boys like family, supporting each other.”

Torres was tagged along by Otero until roughly halfway through a course of dusty slopes and grassy straight-aways.

“It was sprinkling and I got cold, then at the starting line, it was hot. The weather changes here a lot,” Torres said of the conditions at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park.

Otero was a sensation early in the season, winning three races. Then Torres returned from illness to become a force in the latter half of the season.

“It’s good to have someone to push you. Otherwise, you slow down enough,” Otero said. “Plus, Avery really encourages you.”

“He’s like my brother,” Torres said. “This kid can push. When I’m gone, he’s going to be a killer, I know it. He does triathlons, anything to get better.”

The Mustangs had a strong showing overall and will compete for a state crown as a team at the HHSAA cross country championships next week at Hawaii Preparatory Academy. The combo of Torres and Otero could harness big points for Kalaheo. At HPA’s preseason invitational, Otero finished second, losing by a half-second.

“We’re a 1-2 punch,” Torres said.

Mustangs coach Peter Jay was satisfied.

“We had all 14 of our runners qualify (for states),” Jay said. “That’s a first for us.”

Rounding out the boys top five were Hudson Lockette (17:44) of Castle, Timothy Schiller (18:05) of Mililani and Cameron Brown of Kalaheo (18:07).

Radford senior Camryn Butz was a runaway winner in the girls race. Her time of 20:53 was well ahead of Pearl City’s Megumi Takushi (21:41). Butz led from the start and led comfortably, at that. By the time she came downhill on the dirt slope, she was at least 30 strides ahead of the pack.

“I was hoping to beat my PR here,” Butz said of that time (20:40). “It’s my last time running at CORP.”

Her teammate, junior Karla Angulo, took third place with a time of 21:50. Moanalua sophomore Victoria Daley took fourth (22:08) and Radford freshman Taryn Trigler was fifth (22:20).