You can’t ask for a better start to the fall for the Columbus Community cross country teams when they opened the campaign yesterday on the campus of Louisa-Muscatine and swept the four team competition. 

Despite graduating a talented senior class in 2021, the Columbus boys proved they are ready to reload by winning the meet with 38 points, besting the host Falcons by four. Tim Hills-Carrier became the first Wildcat in five years to win a 5K race by clocking in at 19:04. Damian Vergara cracked the top five in fifth (20:01), Bryan Tlatenchi was eighth (20:37), Cael Phillips 11th (21:01), and Oscar Alcala 13th (22:24). 

Having enough for a team score this year, the Wildcat girls took advantage by taking gold with 39 points to roll the competition by 25. Four of five scores were in the top 10 with Ariana Vergara placing fourth (25:02), Quinn Yotter sixth (26:04), Naveiah Garza seventh (26:07), and Avery Sipes 10th (27:18). Kimmy Gonzalez was not far behind in 12th (29:15). 

The Wildcats now gear up for a weekend meet on Friday in Cedar Rapids.  

Photos Courtesy of Columbus XC