The Harlan cross country team had an impressive showing Saturday at Williamsburg while competing in the Trading Days Invitational.
The Dragons won with 19 points, while the Lady Dragons finished third overall with 56 points.
“Saturday at the Traditional Days Invitational in Williamsburg will probably be one race our runners will never forget: the mud, the rain and the fun they had,” Harlan cross country coach Erin Alred said.
Cooper Thomas led the boys, winning the race with a time of 22:10.31. He was immediately followed by Gibson Wilder (22:15.02) and Xavier Farley (23:12.78). Cruz Galloway (23:53.78) finished seventh, immediately followed by Garrett Wilder (24:20.00). Micah Shope was 13th with a time of 27:09.78.
“Our high school boys team is still climbing and improving every day. They took home the first-place trophy with five top-10 finishers,” Alred said. “Cooper Thomas had the race of his life and finished first place overall.”
Harper Carmical led the girls, placing second overall with a time of 23:28.18. Priscilla Stewart was fourth with a time of 27:43.22. Josephine Toll finished 15th with a time of 31:56.78. Amy Roman (19th) and Jenna Nguyen (22nd) finished with times of 37:43.49 and 42:35.37, respectively.
“Even the high school girls team enjoyed the muddy and wet atmosphere, with Harper Carmical coming in a close second and Priscilla Stewart finishing fourth,” Alred said.
The middle school boys won the mixed middle school run.
Carter White finished second in the race with a time of 14:17.88. He was immediately followed by Aiden Burnette (14:19.72). Thomas Miller was fifth with a time of 15:53.44, immediately followed by Carson Yount (16:41.47). Andrew Alred placed 10th with a time of 19:04.44.
Zoe Lawson won the race with a time of 15:24.28 to pace the girls.
The kindergarten through third-grade girls won, while the boys placed fourth.
To lead the girls, McKinley Taylor won with a time of 9:56.78. Shelby Parsons placed third with a time of 10:33.18. Lucy Miller (11:30.21) was eighth, immediately followed by Mallory Sizemore (11:31.46). Rounding out the results were Ellianna Carver (14th, 11:55.09), Ramsi Fields (15th, 11:59.50), Lily Wheeler (26th, 13:54.62), Rayleigh Hoskins (28th, 14:16.72), Oakley Moody (29th, 14:26.52), Leah Burkhart (36th, 17:24.28) and Khloe Keith (37th, 17:25.40).
Emmett Alred paced the boys, placing 12th in the race with a time of 10:24.02. Tyler White finished 14th with a time of 10:31.12, immediately followed by Ryder Bailey (10:33.68). Rounding out the results were Jason Mills (31st, 12:30.34), Ashwin Ganti (34th, 12:33.40), Raylan Simpson (38th, 12:49.43), Lamar Bailey (41st, 13:32.56) and Sherman Ward (45th, 14:25.22).
The fourth-grade through sixth-grade boys and girls placed second overall.
To lead the girls, Julianne Miller placed fourth in the race with a time of 10:06.15. Emily Turner (12th) and Meredith Lawson (16th) finished with times of 11:21.22 and 12:05.28, respectively. Shelbee Miller was 22nd with a time of 13:57.62. Macie Lawson (15:52.75) and Addison Browning (17:19.84) finished 29th and 33rd, respectively.
Aiden Browning finished 10th with a time of 9:14.81 to lead the boys. He was immediately followed by Kash Bailey (9:16.40) and Colt Sullivan (9:16.40). Rounding out the results were Ben Toll (14th, 9:23.37), Braxton Sizemore (18th, 9:39.68), Trenton Turner (19th, 9:44.69), Xander Owens (22nd, 9:58.91), Dakota Halcomb (23rd, 9:59.40), Weston Simpson (39th, 12:10.28), Eli Brock (43rd, 14:12.06) and Liam Cook (44th, 14:23.03).
“Our middle school boys team won first place overall with five top-10 finishers and our elementary runners had the best time with some great finishes for them as well,” Alred said.
“As a coach, the best part of the day was seeing all of our runners work together as a team and cheer for each other,” Alred said. “No matter the age, they were one big team Saturday.”
Harlan’s next race will be Saturday at the Wayne County Invitational Meet.