The Switzerland County boys and girls cross country teams participated in the South Dearborn Invitational on Saturday, and the boys team captured the Division II championship while the Lady Pacers came in second overall.
In the boys race, Switzerland County won the title with a team score of 23; followed by Oldenburg Academy with 48. South Ripley was third with 83; followed by Rising Sun with 90; Jac-Cen-Del with 136; and South Decatur with 151.
Individually, Clay Meyer was the overall winner in a time of 17:01. Corey McFarland was right behind in third place with a time of 17:32; and Tray Meyer was fourth overall in 18:00.
Josh Hon was seventh overall in a time of 18:33; while Anthony Dennis was eighth in 18:37. Tanner Ross finished 15th in 19:28; and Quinn Meyer was 25th in 20:54.
“The team is coming around at the right time,” Coach Mark Boggs said. “We suffered through a few setbacks the past couple of weeks, but now the boys seem to be feeling better and their performances are showing that.”
The girls Division II race was won by Oldenburg Academy with a team score of 46; just in front of the second place Lady Pacers with 65. Jac-Cen-Del was third with 80; while South Ripley lost the tiebreaker to finish fourth, also with a team score of 80.
Rising Sun was next with 84; followed by Milan with 114.
Bre Hinman was fifth overall to lead Switzerland County in a time of 22:10; and she was followed to the tape by Amber Meli in 10th place overall in 23:11. Beth Abbott was 18th in a time of 24:49; Andrea Brogan was 19th in 25:24; and Halie Thomas was 22nd in a time of 25:50.
The Lady Pacers ran the meet without freshman Allie Mathews, who has been the squad’s number two runner all season.
“I feel that the girls ran exceptionally well in the meet considering we didn’t have Allie,” Coach Boggs said. “I credit the other girls for really stepping up in her absence.
The teams will return to action tonight (Thursday) in the Pumpkin Invitational at Versailles.