Conquering the hills of Hawai'i Preparatory Academy, which make for one of the toughest courses in the Islands, will be vital at tomorrow's state cross country championships.

The nature of the course, along with the numerous "favorites," should create one of the more interesting state meets in recent years.

When HPA hosted a meet back in September, teams from O'ahu and Maui signed up to get an early peek.

What they saw was a course that truly defines cross country. The big hill on the course, about 250 yards, starts out gradual before turning steep. The terrain is soft dirt that can make for a dust storm with 200 runners climbing up. After the hill, runners enter the woods and up another hill.

After running downhill, the big hill is repeated again. It's a place to catch up, make a move, or be left behind.

"It's a great test and I like that in cross country," said Kamehameha girls coach David Friedemann. "It's a great test for the state championship."

Kamehameha should be in the running for the state title, along with Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion and three-time defending state champion Punahou, O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion Mililani and Maui Interscholastic League winner Seabury Hall.

Defending state champion Kristin Ali Keith of Mililani is coming off her third straight OIA title, while 2006 state champion Julie Besenbruch, of Maryknoll, is back after not competing last year. La Pietra's Haley Abing won the ILH title for the second straight year, while Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Tialana Greenwell of Honoka'a repeated as well. King Kekaulike's Bailey Massenburg, the MIL champion, won September's HPA meet.

Two-time boys state champion Bryce Jenkins of Leilehua walked the HPA race back in September because of a stress fracture. He finished last, but the race made him eligible to compete the rest of the season. He returned to win the OIA West and OIA titles, and leads the defending state champion Mules.

"When you look at the situation out there, the favorite is Leilehua," said 'Iolani boys coach Jim Rubasch. "They are the defending champion and have a solid core of guys."

Also expected to compete for the title are ILH champion 'Iolani, Kamehameha, Honoka'a and Hilo. Honoka'a edged Hilo, 51-59, for the BIIF championship held at HPA, with Hilo's Mark Turner finishing first. MIL champion Reid Hunter of King Kekaulike won September's HPA race.

"HPA takes endurance and strength," said Hawai'i Baptist senior Matthew Nakamoto, the two-time ILH champion. "The hill, you do it twice. Other than that, it's downhill so you need to have foot speed."