The season could not have begun better for Columbus Wildcat cross country, as Columbus won both the boys’ and girls’ team championships at the Louisa-Muscatine Invitational last night.

The Columbus girls not only won the team title but also had the individual winner in freshman Iris Garza, becoming the first Wildcat girl to win a cross-country race since 2002. Garza clocked in at 22 minutes 10 seconds, a full minute seven seconds ahead of teammate Ariana Vergara, who was second. Isabel Rendon, Naveiah Garza and Frannie Sosa finished fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, while Amelia Fulton was ninth.

Senior Damian Vergara paced the Columbus boys, running a runner-up time of a tick under 19-and-a-half minutes. Ian Estudillo’s first career race saw him finish third, while Bryan Tlatenchi was fifth; Cade Storm was ninth; and Ryan Villa finished 10th. The Wildcats will next race at Saturday at Pella.