GREENFIELD — Windy conditions and a hilly course provided a double challenge for the Woodward-Granger cross country teams as they competed at Nodaway Valley Monday.
The Hawk girls were 11th in a tough 11-team field with 244 points. Panorama, Van Meter and Nodaway Valley claimed the top three spots with scores of 55, 65, and 115, respectively.
Nodaway Valley (39), Tri-Center (79), and Interstate-35 (100) were 1-2-3 in the boys varsity race, with W-G placing 10 of 10 at 221.
Ella Waddle of Panorama won the girls event in 20 minutes, 36.56 seconds, with Van Meter sophomore twins Clare and Mary Kelly 2-3 in 20:53.1 and 21:01.26.
Libby Grell crossed 34th, in 25:50.13, to lead W-G. Katie Grell (27:22.38) and Makenzie Dresback (27:32.13) placed 44th and 46th, with Sydney Grell (50th, 30:07.95), and Madisyn Mann (61st, 31:05.77) also scoring while Marissa Trees (64th, 33:50.62) ran the course as well.
The first three male finishers were Randy Jimenez of SE Warren (17:00.58) and Nodaway Valley’s Toby Bower (17:58.38) and Doug Berg (18:02.38).
W-G was without lead runner Carsten Wright, with Healey Hill stepping up to lead the Hawks by breaking the line 35th in 22:13.28. Riece Graham (44th, 22:56.88), Xavier Ibarra (23:01.82), Sterling Parkinson (47th, 23:07.94) and Dillon Limoges (49th, 23:35.03) completed the scoring quintet, with Kurt Crouse (50th, 23:36.24) and Elijan Bell (23:44.07) also in action.
Landon Bogardus (23:54.39), Joel Harney (24:21.83), Tjaden Smeltzer (25:02.49), Mason Dorenkamp (26:59.25), and Lucas Hansen (27:03.4) ran the course for the W-G boys as well.
Both Hawk middle school teams were in action, running a two-mile race.
Martensdale-St. Marys won the girls team race with 56 points, with W-G fourth in a nine-team field with 112 points.
Earlham’s Makenzie Harger won the race in 12:55.56, but W-G’s Eva Fleshner was close behind, placing second in 13:00.25. Zoey Osmundson (16th, 15:11.9), Jaidyn Achenbach (17th, 15:14.91), Grace Sharr (38th, 17:31.2) and Rylee Woodard (39th, 17:40.16) also scored for the Hawks. Chloe Creger (40th, 17:45.58), Talie Wright (42nd, 17:55.38) and Riley McCaulley (18:00.54) also made the rounds. All are in seventh grade.
The Hawk MS boys were fifth of seven at 132 points, with Pleasantville winning the event with 29 points.
Cael Leighton (13th, 14:34.11) was the first W-G harrier to cross, with Grant Polito (21st, 15:15.11), Casey Foster (26th, 15:39.85), Wiley Sharr (33rd, 23:36.18), and Sidney Trees (39th, 23:43.21) helping to provide a team score. Polito and Foster are eighth graders, the others are in grade seven.
W-G now has an extended break, and will not return to action until visiting Panora for the WCAC meet Oct. 15.
