Area cross country teams will get back on the course this evening when they travel to Fort Madison for a meet.

Area schools that will be participating include Washington, Winfield-Mt. Union, and Columbus Community. The WMU boys made headlines on Tuesday by winning the meet at Central Lee even with the absence of top runner Brody Barton. Three runners cracked the top 10 led by Dane Sweezer in fourth. Avery Maeder did some damage on the girls’ side in sixth. 

The Wildcat boys are also coming off of a meet win taking the top spot at Keota last week. Six runners were in the top 20 headlined by Isaac Acosta in third and Damian Vergara ninth. Washington has been off for two weeks with their last meet in Ottumwa where the girls placed fourth and the boys sixth. Grace Voss had the top girls’ finish in 15th and Micah Rees was 23rd on the boys’ side.  

WMU Head Coach Amanda Hemsworth tells KCII Sports this is a measuring stick type meet. “I am excited to see how we match up against some schools we have ran with in the past. Columbus and us are usually pretty well matched so I am excited to see how that shakes out and to see where we are at.”

The action gets underway at 4:30 p.m. this evening at Fort Madison Middle School.