Local runners were in the spotlight Tuesday at Knoll Ridge Golf Course in North English for the annual English Valleys Invitational.

There were no team scores posted for area girls schools, but plenty of individual standouts. Leading the way was Hillcrest Academy’s Marie Yoder. The Raven freshman phenom continued the tremendous start to her career with a runner-up finish in 19:18. Yoder talked after her race about the run. Yoder said, “I wanted to get under a 21. I got a 19. It went really well. It was a tougher course because it was hilly. There were some nice downhills too. For my first mile, I think it was a 6:30, that was a good time. I just wanted to keep my splits even and have a strong finish.”

Others for Hillcrest included Delaney Shaw 25th and Brynna O’Rourke 31st.

The Sigourney Savages were paced by Addison Yates seventh in 21:02. Other Sigourney finishers included Reanah Utterback 24th and Cloee Wilson 43rd.

Siena Stanerson went top 10 to lead Highland, finishing in 10th at 21:42. Other Huskies included Erika Thomann 13th, and Halle Hazelett 40th.

Vivian Zaruba was the leader for Lone Tree, taking 12th in 21:58. Jazmine Nino was 26th for the Lions.

Justine Lynn had the top finish for the WACO Warriors in 39th in 26:15. Sarah Craun was 42nd.

In the boys race, it was Hillcrest Academy with the top area team finish, scoring 106 points to take fourth in the field of eight. Pekin won the team title with 29 points. The fastest Raven was Micah Gerber in ninth in 17:44. Other Hillcrest finishers included Jesse Blossom 11th, Isaac Beachy 23rd, Braden Hartsock 39th, Kyle Neuschwander 50th, and Jeremiah Danker 53rd.

Highland was seventh in the team standings with 146 points. Top finish for the Huskies came from Brock Thomann in 14th at 18:33. Others included Chase Hickenbottom 35th, Jack Krotz 41st, Brayden Zywiec 44th, Jacob Schneider 47th, Isaac Giesmann 52nd, Jackson Schneider 58th, Spencer Thompkin 63rd and Jackson Robinson 64th.

Top area individual finish was Sigourney’s Troy Klett seventh in 17:31. After his race he joined KCII sports to talk about the night. “I was hoping to go under 18. I was able to do that. It was a shorter course. It was a nice up and down course, pretty much perfect with great weather. Other goal was to just try to go top 10. Making sure there’s not too many people in front of me. Being able to compete.”

His teammate Dawson Meyer was 37th.

The WACO Warriors were led by Keiran Luitjens in 13th at 18:30. Other Warriors runners included Tristan Luitjens 20th, and Deacon Bird 36th.

Brock Nebergal led Lone Tree in 16th at 18:38. Other Lions included Taylor Alberhasky 28th and Joey Birtcher 49th.