Like clockwork, the Columbus Community boys’ cross country team had another meet on Tuesday and for the second straight outing they can chalk up another win to their resume. The Wildcats headlined a plethora of area teams that competed at Lagos Acres in Keota on a cold and rainy evening.

The Wildcats won this meet for the second year in a row by posting 45 points that edged North Mahaska with 50. Six runners cracked the top 20 and received a medal led by Isaac Acosta in third with a time of 18:59. Damian Vergara was ninth, Mason Hills-Carrier 10th, Alex Rivas 11th, Freddy Vergara 12th, and Van Bawi 15th. 

Head Coach Steve Riley tells KCII Sports he had some runners injured, but they have a next man up mentality. “One of our top runners was hurting so we held him out, but we have a bunch of guys that are willing to step in. It is all about the team with these runners. They are really proud to win that trophy again this year and our second of the season.”

Sigourney and WACO did not have enough for a team score, but had some individuals do damage including Mason Moore finishing runner-up for the Savages clocking in at 17:54. English Valley’s Bryson Graves took home gold in 17:07. The Warriors’ Jonah Egli tallied fourth in 19:09. Lone Tree placed third with 105 points with Alberto Cortes cracking the top 10 in eighth (19:43). Highland had 131 points to finish fourth and Jacob Roling was 18th (21:10). Keota’s top runner was Ryan Lawson in 34th (23:46). 

On the girls’ side no area school recorded a team score, but Highland’s Taylor Sublette left her mark crossing the finish line in third in a time of 23:45. BGM’s Hannah Gus won it all in 20:42. WACO’s Mckenzie Vradenburg went home with hardware in 12th (25:38), Columbus’ Kimberly Gonzalez 16th (27:09), and Sigourney’s Georgia Atwood made her season debut in 27th (30:34).