Washington’s Brooke Stout (left) and Emme Keith run side by side during Washington’s Cross Country Invitational Tuesday at Washington’s Golf and Country Club. Photo by KCII’s Nate Gonner.

A beautiful late September day proved to be beneficial for the Washington Demon cross country teams as they competed in their home meet Tuesday. The Washington Golf and Country Club was the site of the annual Washington Cross Country Invitational, which featured teams from Fairfield, Fort Madison, Keokuk, Highland, Keota, and Sigourney.

The Demon girls’ cross county team had two top 10 finishers and five runners earn medals as top 25 finishers in the race. Senior Emme Keith finished her final home meet as Washington’s top individual runner, placing eighth with a time of 20:20. Sophomore Brooke Stout finished two seconds behind, finishing the race ninth overall. Freshman Molly Sparks came in 12th place, sophomore Mariah Howard finished in 21st, and freshman Molly Vos placed 23rd.

A quartet of Washington boys runner left the meet with a medal as a top 25 performer. Junior Owen Horak led the Demons with a 14th place finish after recording a time of 17:46. Owen’s younger cousin, sophomore Brennan Horak, finished one spot behind him with a time of 17:49. Jacob Van Osdol came in 17th place while Ben Loy finished in 23rd.

Washington’s cross country teams will return to race action Monday, competing in the Iowa Mennonite School Invitational at the Wellman Golf Course.