It was a big opening night on the course for area cross country teams in Kalona at the annual Hillcrest Academy Early Bird Invite.

In the boys race, the Columbus Wildcats outran the field for the team championship with their score of 39 points, beating second place Cedar Rapids Washington’s 57. The Wildcats went low by putting four in the top 10, led by Ty Muniz fourth with a 17:58. Other Columbus runners included Ryan Villa eighth, Eli Gonzalez-Bravo ninth, Cade Storm 10th, Drake Marin 21st, Juan Alcala 28th and Victor Tovar 34th. Following the meet, Muniz, Villa, Gonzalez-Bravo and Storm talked about the race with KCII Sports

Muniz said, “Today was about getting the nerves out. I know I have lots of high hopes for the end of the season. We had to push the pace.”

Storm continued, “I think the biggest thing that came into play for me was the distance. Being able to go for the full 3.125 miles, getting my stamina built back up.”

Gonzales-Bravo added, “It’s just a mindset that gets you through. You think about all of the hard work that you’ve done.”

Villa said, “At the very beginning of the race I was so nervous. I wasn’t sure how much I was going to improve by and it really surprised me. It was a PR, current PR, on one of the hardest courses we run!”

Hillcrest was fourth in the team standings with 102 points. On their home course the Ravens were led by Jesse Blossom 12th in 20:09. Other Raven runners included Micah Gerber 16th, Braden Hartsock 22nd, Isaac Beachy 23rd, Micah Kacmarynski 36th, Jeremiah Danker 40th, and Kyle Neuschwander 47th.

Winfield-Mt. Union finished fifth with 102 points. Top WMU runner was Kohlby Newsom overall runner-up at 17:30, behind Gage Heyne of English Valleys winning time of 16:47. Other runners for the Wolves included Jacob Nelson 25th, Bowen Thomsen 27th, Brayden Beebe 35th, Jagger Thomson 39th, Carter Finnell 42nd, and William Cupps 48th.

The WACO Warriors, Lone Tree Lions and Highland Huskies did not post team scores. Top individuals from those schools included a third place finish from WACO’s Jude Dykstra, a 43rd place run for Highland’s Brayden Zywiec and 44th for Lone Tree’s Taylor Alberhasky.

In the girls race, it was the Hillcrest Ravens representing on their home course with the best team finish, in fourth with 106 points. Iowa City High won the championship with 20. Hillcrest put a pair in the top 10, led by Marie Yoder’s third place performance in 20:40. Siena Stanerson was 10th. Other finishers included Delaney Shaw 30th, Brynna O’Rourke 35th, and Samantha Mize 46th.

The Columbus girls were sixth of six schools with 146 points. Top ‘Cat on the course was Isabel Rendon in 13th at 23:23. Other Columbus runners included Naveiah Garza 36th, Rozlynn Garza 41st, Amelia Fulton 42nd, Naomi Allchin 44th and Kymila Bacon 45th.

WACO, Lone Tree, Winfield-Mt. Union and Highland missed out on team scores. Individual leaders for those schools included WACO’s Josie Dykstra 14th, Lone Tree’s Vivian Zaruba 19th, Winfield-Mt. Union’s Ashlyn Bender 38th and Highland’s Jaydee Macareno 39th.