SAYDEL — All six Perry cross country squads — varsity, junior varsity and middle school boys and girls — were in action Thursday at the Saydel Invitational.
The Bluejay varsity was ninth in a nine-team varsity field with 220 points. North Polk (51) and Des Moines Lincoln (54) claimed the top two team spots, with 139 racers competing in the combined varsity/JV event.
Eli Noble was the swiftest Perry finisher, crossing in 19 minutes, 43.87 seconds. Mario Cruz (20:25.34), Zach Stewart (20:25.51) and Zachary Thompson (20:25.68) were 43-44-45 for Perry, with Hayden McFarland 51st in 20:56.56. Aaron Lockwood (52nd, 21:31.58) and Beau Nelson (53rd, 21:40.2) also posted a varsity finish.
Perry had nine boys run in the junior varsity ranks, with Gabe Ridnour (22:33.29) nipping Miguel Gonzalez (22:34.54) for top Jay JV honors. Chase Archer (23:02.47), Calvin Sass (23:29.01), Collin Malmberg (23:31.25), Jacob Prombo (24:24.41) and Kyle Lockwood (25:17.6) were also in action, as were Devin Carrillo (27:06.47) and Alex Thompson (36:20.69).
North Polk slipped past Ballard, 28-29, to claim the girls team crown, with Woodward-Granger third at 107. Perry and West Central Valley each had 120 points, but the Wildcats placed fourth when their sixth runner was 33rd and Perry’s 35th. Saydel completed the 72-runner field with 151 points.
Grace Stewart’s clocking of 22:05.72 placed 15th, with Hannah Peterson 22nd in 25:10.31 and Cris Gomez 23rd in 25:16.63. Julissa Calderon crossed 20th in 26:05.16 and Molly Lutmer 31st in 26:23.62, with Sophie Prombo (35th, 27:55.93) and Angela Hernandez (36th, 27:56.15) rounding out the varsity septet.
Kat Munoz (28:09.85), Darian McCord (28:48.84), Taylor Eppert (34:19.51) and Maria Izquierdo (37:21.81) ran the course for the Jayette JV.
ADM edged North Polk, 40-41, for first in the boys middle school two-mile race. Perry was 10th of 10 with 287 points.
Tanner Burgin (45th, 13:40.25), Cole Nelson (55th, 14:27.16) and Jonathan Chavez (56th, 14:39.54) were the top three for Perry, with Gannon Meis (65th, 16:02.95) and Christian Garrido (66th, 18:00.86) also in action.
Perry had only two girls running in middle school two-mile race, with Jaylene Karolus crossing in 13:57.89 and Hailey Peterson in 16:34.55.
The Bluejay and Jayette harriers will run Monday in the Raccoon River Conference meet, hosted by Winterset. Perry has not yet been assigned a site for the state qualifying meet, which will be held Oct. 19.
