MADRID — The Perry cross country teams opened their season Thursday by running in Grant’s Woods Park at the Madrid Invitational. The Jayettes were second in the girls team race, with the Bluejays fourth in the boys competition.
Madrid was first in the girls race with 36 points, with Woodward-Granger second at 68. Ogden (72) was third, Perry (75) fourth, and Colo-NESCO (78 fifth).
Class 1A defending state titleist and top-ranked Madrid claimed boys team honors with 23 points. Ogden was the runner-up at 43, with Colo-NESCO (87), Perry (121), W-G (134) and Woodward Academy (135) following.
The Perry girls received a pair of strong medalist efforts, with junior Jaylene Karolus — a two-time state meet qualifier — winning in 21 minutes, 51 seconds while senior teammate Kennedy Tunink stepped up to cross fourth in 23:45.
Senior Cris Gomez was 11th overall in 25:20, with senior Misty Gomez placing 29th in 41:19 while Michelle Tobar was 30th in 42:04.
Madrid’s Clay Pehl and Ogden’s Stephen Flynn were 1-2 in the boys race in 16:06 and 17:10, respectively.
The top two placers for the Bluejays were sophomore Gannon Meis (17th, 20:25) and senior Jayson Chavez (18th, 20:29). Also scoring for Perry were freshman Johnathan Munoz (25th, 21:33), senior Jeb Stewart (28th, 21:47) and junior Orlando Gonzalez (33rd, 23:34).
Johnathan Chavez (35th, 24:01) and Bryce Anliker (38th, 24:39) were also on the course for the Jays, but did not have their placings used for the varsity score.
Junior Sebastian Hernandez and freshman Mason Hoffman ran in the junior varsity race for the Bluejays, the former finishing in 34:45 and the latter in 35:14.
Perry will compete at Winterset Tuesday before visiting Greene County Thursday.
