NEWTON — Tuesday saw the Perry cross country teams take a drive east down Interstate 80 to compete in the Cardinal Invitational, where races were held for varsity, junior varsity and middle school squads.
The Perry girls varsity team was the only one of the six PHS squads to avoid the final spot in their respective team standings by finishing eighth in a nine-team field. Des Moines Roosevelt and Ankeny tied to the team title with 44 points, but the Roughriders won by having the higher finish between the sixth-place harrier for each school. Southeast Polk was third at 61 points, with Grinnell (108), Oskaloosa (126), Newton (163), Marshalltown (203), Perry (249) and Des Moines East (251) completing the team list.
Sierra Mitchell (SEP) won in 19 minutes, 45.2 seconds, with Alex Robran (ANK) second at 20:09.1 and Isabel Buchanan (DMR) third at 20:22.3
Grace Stewart led Perry with a 32nd-place effort in 23:45.9. Julissa Calderon (49th, 26:57.8), Darian McCord (54th, 20:03.8), McKinley Thompson (56th, 29:18.2) and Alejandra Rivera (58th, 30:16.7) completed the scoring for Perry, with Sophie Prombo (30:43.9) also running for the varsity.
Molly Lutmer clocked in at 25:54, which would have placed her 43rd, but her automatic timing chip was not working and thus her effort was not recorded. Had her points been scored for Perry, the Jayettes would have improved from 249 to 234, but would have remained eighth overall.
DC-G edged Grinnell, 31-38, for the boys varsity win, with DM Roosevelt (65), Oskaloosa (117), Ankeny (129), Newton (190), DM East (212), Marshalltown (225) and Perry (247) also in the group.
Thomas Clower and Trenton O’Halloran of Grinnell were 1-2 in 16:42.8 and 16:52.1, with Alex Thompson of DC-G third in 17:01.2.
Perry placed 44th, 46th, 50th, 52nd and 55th. Alexis Macias (20:01.5), Juma Bushiri (20:21.2), Dane McCarty (20:40.2), Maria Cruz (20:41.2) and Zach Stewart (20:48.4), in order, were the Bluejays scoring. Aaron Lockwood (21:55.1) and Hayden McFarland (22:32.7) also competed for the Perry varsity.
The Jayette JV was eighth with 227 points, with SE Polk winning the top team spot with 38 points.
Angela Hernandez (42nd, 32:21.8), Kat Munoz (43rd, 32:48.9), Kyla Devilbiss (46th, 33:46.9), Andrea Cortez (47th, 33:58) and Taylor Eppert (49th, 34:38.3) placed for Perry, with Alondra Avila (34:59) also competing.
The Bluejay JV was ninth with 262 points in a race won by DC-G’s 25 points.
Scoring for Perry were Eduardo Sanchez (44th, 22:32), Jacob Prombo (53rd, 24:22), Ben Stika (54th, 24:27), Beau Nelson (55th, 24:29) and Gabe Ridnour (57th, 24:35), with Chase Archer (26:30) and Miguel Gonzalez (26:30 as well) also on the course.
DM Roosevelt won the middle school (two-mile) girls team competition with 31 points while Perry was seventh with 215 points.
Jaylene Karolus (35th, 17:52), Ashley Macias (42nd, 20:27), Amy McNamara (45th, 22:19), Aracely Chavez (46th, 31:37) and Rosalyn Avila (47th, 31:39) ran for the Jayettes.
DM Roosevelt won the boys middle school team race with a score of 53, with Perry seventh after totaling 212 points.
Tyler Devilbiss (31st, 15:38.9), Andrew Galindo (43rd, 17:51.7), Tanner Burgin (45th, 18:30.3), Kyle Lockwood (46th, 18:30.8) and David Roberts (47th, 19:48.8) were in action for the Bluejays.
Perry will host the Leon Fox Invitational at the Perry Golf and Country Club Sept. 29, with middle school races beginning at 4:15 p.m. The Bluejays and Jayettes will serve as hosts for the Raccoon River Conference meet Oct. 10, which will be their first action after the Fox Invite. The RRC meet will begin at 4:30 p.m.
