HUXLEY — The Perry harriers found themselves running in a crowded field at Monday’s Ballard Invitational but continued to make strides.
DC-G was an easy winner in the boys Class A varsity race with a score of 44, with Carlisle (66) second and Bondurant-Farrar (82) third. Perry was 11th in the 11-team field wit 307 points. A total of 77 entrants competed.
Zachary Thompson was the first Bluejay to cross, clocking in 37th overall in 19 minutes, 23 seconds. Eduardo Sanchez was second for Perry and 58th overall in 20:44, with Zach Stewart (69th, 21:29), Hayden McFarland (71st, 21:56) and Aaron Lockwood (72nd, 22:08) also scoring.
Ben Stika (75th, 24:56) and Gabe Ridnour (76th, 24:57) ran for the varsity as well but did not have their places scored.
The ‘A’ girls varsity race went to Ballard (46), with Pella edging DC-G, 52-55, for second place. Perry was 10th of 11 in the 72-runner field with 263 points. Boone was 11th at 265 and had their 2-3-4-5 runners finished a few places ahead of the same finishers for Perry, but Grace Stewart was first for the Jayettes and 24th overall in 22:42, and with Boone’s lead runner 35th Perry was able to nip the Toreadors.
Hannah Peterson (53rd, 26:19), Julissa Calderon (57th, 26:57), Cris Gomez (64th, 29:38) and Jaky Castaneda (65th, 29:51) also scored for Perry. Also running for the varsity were Sophie Prombo (66th, 29:56) and Angela Hernandez (67th, 29:56).
The Junior Varsity races combined both the A and B classes, with the boys race sending 325 runners onto the course and the girls event 188.
DC-G (27) was the boys winner, with Carlisle (57) and Gilbert (61) second and third, respectively. Woodward-Granger was 21st (616) and Perry 22nd (689) in the 23-team field.
Beau Nelson (124th, 24:10), Miguel Gonzalez (133rd, 24:51), Jacob Prombo (137th, 25:05), Chase Archer (147th, 26:24) and Collin Malmberg (148th, 26:37) placed for Perry, with Kyle Lockwood (151st, 27:27) and Alex Thompson (157th, 29:39) rounding out the top seven.
DC-G’s sixth runner was 26th and the sixth runner from Ballard 38th, breaking the tie and giving the former the win in the girls JV race after both scored 52 points. North Polk was third at 65 points and Perry 15th of 15 with 464 points.
Kat Munoz (82nd, 30:10), Darian McCord (94th, 35:05), Maria Izquierdo (95th, 35:32), Taylor Eppert (96th, 35:39) and Alondra Avila (97th, 39:23) were in action for Perry.
The two-mile boys junior high race had 217 runners and the girls 167. ADM won the boys race with 58 points, with W-G 15th at 407 and Perry 16th of 16 at 433.
Tanner Burgin (60th, 14:54), Gannon Meis (61st, 14:56), Cole Nelson (93rd, 16:53), Alexis Reyes (109th, 18:49) and Christian Garrido (110th, 18:51) were on the course for the Jays.
DC-G’s 76 points won the girls event, with Perry 10th of 13 at 277.
Jaylene Karolus (27th, 15:06), Lydia Olejniczak (32nd, 15:11), Pauline Galindo (66th, 17:12), Hailey Peterson (71st, 18:04) and Joanna Ubaldo (81st, 19:11) competed for the Jayettes.
The Perry teams return to action Tuesday with a trip to Newton for the Cardinal Invitational. The meet will be held at Westwood Golf Course and begin at 4 p.m.
