Competition resumes tonight in Jefferson County for the Washington Demon cross country teams. The Demons will travel to Waterworks Park for the Fairfield Invitational. The race field includes runners from Cardinal, Central Lee, Chariton, Danville, Fort Madison, Highland, Iowa Mennonite School, Lone Tree, Mount Pleasant, Notre Dame, Ottumwa, Pekin, Wapello and Winfield-Mount Union.

Washington’s runners took part in a pair of races last week, competing in the IMS Early Bird Invitational and the Pekin Invitational. The Demon boys’ cross country team placed third in both events, while Washington’s girls’ cross country squad finished second at IMS and fourth at Pekin.

Junior Brennan Horak has been the top runner on Washington’s boys’ team, finishing in the top 15 of both races. He shaved 90 seconds off his initial race, clocking a season-best time of 17:54 at the Pekin Invitational. The other five members of Washington’s varsity boys’ cross country team are seniors Owen Horak and Kyle Anderson, junior Jacob Van Osdol, sophomore Ben Loy, and freshman Evan Horak.

Sophomore Claire Horak has posted back-to-back top 10 finishes to lead the Demon girls. She cut nearly 2:25 off her mark from IMS, clocking a career-best time of 20:26 last week at Pekin. Washington’s five remaining varsity girls’ cross country runners are senior Maggie Vos, juniors Meredith Raber and Brooke Stout, sophomore Molly Sparks and freshman Halle Leyden.

The first races of the Fairfield Invitational are set to begin at 5 p.m. at Waterworks Park.