Washington junior Brennan Horak approaches the finish line of last night’s IMS Early Bird Invitational held on the campus of Iowa Mennonite School. Photo by KCII Sports Zach Ulin.

The high school cross country season began in rural Kalona Tuesday for the Washington Demon squads. The annual IMS Early Bird Invitational featured runners from Cedar Rapids Jefferson, English Valleys, Highland, the Iowa Mennonite School, Iowa City High, Keota, Lone Tree, Montezuma, North Cedar, WACO, Wapello, and Winfield-Mount Union running a course around the Iowa Mennonite School campus. Medals were handed out to the top 20 finishers in each race.

All six runners on Washington’s girls cross country team placed in the top 30, taking home a second place overall finish with 71 points. Iowa City High won the girls meet with a collective score of 17. Sophomore Claire Horak had Washington’s top finish in the girls’ race, crossing the finish line in sixth place with a time of 22:50.1. Juniors Brooke Stout (15th; 24:04.19) and Meredith Raber (18th; 24:22.69) also posted top 20 finishes for the Demons.

Washington’s boys cross country team had all six of their runners place in the top 40 individually, finishing in third place in the team standings with 105 points. Iowa City High won the team championship by scoring 16 points, while Cedar Rapid’s Jefferson came away in second place with 56 points. Junior Brennan Horak had the Demons best finish in the boy’s race, placing 13th with a time of 19:24.33. Senior Owen Horak, Brennan’s cousin and Claire’s older brother, crossed the finish line in 19:54.7, the 18th best finish in the boy’s varsity race.

The Demon cross country teams are preparing for another race tomorrow, competing in the Pekin Invitational at Wildwood State Park in Ottumwa.

Washington’s varsity girls’ cross country results
Claire Horak (SO)-sixth place-22:50.1
Brooke Stout (JR)-15th place-24:04.19
Meredith Raber (JR)-18th place-24:22.69
Molly Sparks (SO)-21st place-24:46.79
Halle Leyden (FR)-25th place-25:04.79
Maggie Voss (SR)-27th place-25:13.4
Ashley Telleen (SO)-37th place-26:45.9

Washington’s varsity boys’ cross country results
Brennan Horak (JR)-13th place-19:24.33
Owen Horak (SR)-18th-19:54.7
Jacob Van Osdol (JR)-21st place-19:58.19
Evan Horak (FR)-23rd place-20:14.19
Kiowa Keith (JR)-38th place-21:51.22
Kyle Anderson (SR)-39th place-21:58.17
Ben Loy (SO)-56th place-23:13.58