The Columbus cross country team ran their first meet this weekend at the Cedar Rapids Prairie Invite.

The girls team finished third in their division with 64 points, led by Senior Caitlin Chaney who finished eighth overall with a time of 17:59.

The Wildcats did a good job of running together as in ninth was Claire Hamilton, then finishing in 16th and 17th place was Grace Chapman and Ashley Canny, and then in 19th and 21st was Taylor Hills and Rebeca Neri.

On the boys side, Eli Sents broke his personal best on the course and finished in 11th place with a time of 18:40.

Josh Keller finished behind Sents in 17th place, and then the final three runners for the team came in order with Mitchell Roush, Dalton Howell and Jesus Amigon finishing 23rd, 24th and 25th.

Head coach Steve Riley says the meet had its ups and downs, but overall it was a good meet with great competition for the first meet of the year.

“We had some really good things, and we have some work to do also,” Riley said. “It was kind of a mixed result, but that’s what you get in your first meet I think.”

The boys team was fourth in their division. 2A defending State Champions Monticello won both the boys and girls events.