The official start to the 2020 cross country season was Monday on the campus of Hillcrest Academy at their annual early bird meet. Attending from the KCII listening area were Washington, Highland, Lone Tree, WACO, Winfield-Mt. Union and the host Ravens. On the girls side, the Washington Demons finished as team runners-up with 61 points. City High won the meet with a perfect 15 points. Top finisher for the Demons was Hannah Rees with her time of 24:23 in 10th. Other Demon finishers included Taylor Bartholomew 12th, Grace Voss 13th, Cloe Telleen 16th, Abby Kleese 17th, Giselle Marcelino 22nd, and Molly Klinzman 31st.

The Ravens didn’t have a team score but they had the top individual area finish with Leah Bontrager taking eighth in 22:54. She spoke after the race about her night. “It felt really comfortable. I was really relaxed because it’s our home course and I know it so well. Last year here I was eighth place also so I wanted to do at least that well. It felt really good to have a meet again and I am grateful to have a season. My time is better than what it was at this race a year ago.”

Other Hillcrest finishers included Julia Boller 26th, and Taryn Leichty 36th.

Highland did not post a team score on the night. They were led by senior Taylor Sublette in 18th with a time of 25:39. Other finishers for the Huskies included Fiona Mahler 34th and Katelyn Waters 37th.

Winfield-Mt. Union was paced by Avery Maeder in 19th with a time of 25:40. Other WMU runners included Emma Richardson 35th, Maggie Hutton 38th and Bayla Thomson 39th.

In the boys race it was again the Demons who carried the area flag, finishing third as a team with their score of 83 points. Cedar Rapids Jefferson won the meet with 19 points. The Washington boys were led by Micah Rees in 10th with a time of 19:42. Other Washington finishers included Elijah Morris 11th, Drew Horak 22nd, Cameron Vongpanya 24th, Peyton Snakenberg 27th, Keaton Crawford 36th and William Kennedy 38th. After the meet, Washington head coach Stefanie Haworth talked about the night for the Demon boys and girls. “It was a great race on the girls side. We had five girls come home with medals, in order to do that they had to finish in the top 20. Hannah Rees was our top runner in 10th. Taylor Bartholomew was just a few seconds behind her in 12th. Great race by them, a couple of freshman with medals. We are out to a great start. On the boys side we started a little slower with our pack running. They definitely opened up later. We had two come home with medals, Micah Reese and Elijah Morris. It was a great race by everybody.”

Winfield-Mt. Union was fifth in the team standings with 118 points. Top finish for the Wolves came from Dane Sweezer in 12th with a time of 19:56. Other WMU runners included Gabriel Hemsworth 25th, Lane Scorpil 26th, Jacob Haines 33rd, Ty Scorpil 35th, and Anden Gipple 42nd.

Lone Tree was sixth with 146 points. The Lions were led by Nick Saltzman in 18th place in 20:31. Other finishers for the Lions included Cal Christofferson 23rd, Alberto Cortes 32nd, William Rockafellow 44th and Joey Bircher 46th.

Highland was seventh with 166 points. Top finish for the Huskies came from Carlos Valenzuela in 30th with a time of 22:43. Other Highland runners included Bryce Thompson 34th, Jacob Roling 37th, Ethan Paisley 39th, and Brendan Schnoebelen 43rd.

The WACO Warriors did not post a team score. Jonah Egli finished in a time of 20:33 for 19th place.

Hillcrest Academy did not post a team score. Their best finish came from Collin Miller in 21st with a time of 21:15. Other Raven runners included Jorge Canchola 40th and Will Kolck 41st.