W-G cross country opens season with early meet at Jester Park

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Woodward-Granger began their cross country season with an early schedule meet at Jester Park Monday. Photo submitted.

GRANGER — The harriers from Woodward-Granger and a handful of area schools took to the course for the first time this season Monday with an early-schedule meet at Jester Park.

The W-G boys were third in a six-team field, with the top trio separated by only four points. Saydel won with 55 points, with Greene County second at 57 and W-G third at 59. West Marshall (76) was fourth, with Baxter (144) and Clarke (148) also in action.

West Marshall’s 28 points won the girls side, with Baxter second at 67. W-G (74) was third, Greene County (77) fourth and Saydel (123) fifth.

Dylan Steele was third for W-G in 20 minutes, 2 seconds, with Alex Bice seventh at 20:39, Caleb Jones 11th in 21:11, Jack Grell 13th in 21:15 and Xavier Ibarra 25th in 22:15. Also running were Carsten Wright (26th, 22:21) and Andrew Anderson (28th, 22:35).

Ibarra is a junior and Wright a freshman, with the five other Hawks all seniors. A total of 71 boys competed in the varsity race.

A total of 58 varsity runners raced in the girls event. Emma Drake was second for W-G in 24:20. Natalie Helbling crossed 15th in 27:16, Ava Petersen 16th in 27:35 and Katie Grell 18th in 28:09, with Kaitlyn Smith 23rd in 29:29. Makenzie Dresback (24th, 30:24) and Sydney Grell (25th, 30:26) also made the circuit.

Drake and Helbling are seniors and Petersen a junior. The remaining varsity quartet are all sophomores.

Baxter’s Logan Berg (19:08) and West Marshall’s Nicolas Thompson (19:50) were the only boys to beat Steele to the finish line. Katie Donaldson of Clarke won the girls race in 23:48 but her spot was uncounted as the Indians did not have the five harriers necessary for a team score. West Marshall’s Emelia Hunter (24:04) was scored as first, with Drake following and Kailee Conradi of Baxter (24:23) third.

W-G, which is coached by Dave Smeltzer, will return to action Sept. 5 at Madrid before running on the Central College course at Pella Sept. 7.

Senior Emma Drake, sporting the white hat, placed third (second in point) for host W-G Monday at Jester Park. Photo submitted.
W-G’s Dylan Steele (third from right) placed third Monday at Jester Park. Photo submitted.

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