Local runners competed Thursday at the Winfield-Mount Union Cross Country Invitational at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Winfield. The WACO Warriors had a strong showing, finishing third in the boys’ team scoring behind Jude Dykstra’s second-place time of 17 minutes 29 seconds and a ninth-place finish by fellow junior Gavin Slagel.

Senior Keiran Luitjens and junior Tristan Luitjens also had top-20 times for the WACO boys, while freshman Josie Dykstra took third place in the girls’ race by clocking in at 21 minutes 37 seconds for the Warriors and was joined by senior teammate Elyssa Graber in the top 10.

The Lone Tree Lions had a third-place finish as a team on the girls’ side, paced by senior Vivian Zaruba finishing fifth in 22:49. Freshman Addyson Eiben was one spot and seven seconds behind her, while junior Ava Christofferson also made the top 20 and sophomore Brock Nebergall was top 10 in the boys’ competition.

Kohlby Newsom led the home team by crossing the finish line in 17:40 and winning the bronze medal in the boys’ race for Winfield-Mount Union, while fellow senior Jacob Nelson and junior Bowen Thomson just missed out on the top 20 for the Wolves.