(TOP) The Hamilton Heights girls and boys cross country teams swept the Huskies’ Landes Invitational Thursday. Both team won by large margins. (BOTTOM) University’s boys team placed third, while the Trailblazers’ girls team placed fourth. (Richie Hall)
By RICHIE HALL
ARCADIA – There was a happy mood at Hamilton Heights Thursday as the Huskies cross country team hosted its annual Landes Invitational.
And there was every reason for Heights to be in a happy mood. Both teams are enjoying a fine season, which continued when both the Huskies boys and girls teams won the team championship. In addition Heights’ Allie Bushey won the girls individual race.
Bushey, a junior, clocked in at 18 minutes, 41.9 seconds. That winning time was over 50 seconds ahead of second place: Huskies freshman Lillian Higgins clocked in at 19:33.7.
Bushey’s Landes time was the second-best she has run this year. Bushey ran an 18:35 on Saturday, Aug. 30 at the Oak Hill Invitational.
“I’m in my highest mileage and I just had a really good summer,” said Bushey. “I’m profiting off my good summer.”
Heights landed six runners in the top 10. Freshman Matilda Higgins placed fifth, followed by senior Anna Monnin, who took sixth place. Juniors Ayla Madara and Amira Leer were eighth and ninth respectively.
The Huskies boys team won its division easily, scoring 38 points. Four Heights runners reached the top 10, led by senior Isaiah Heuer’s third-place finish. Freshman Nicholas Bragg placed fifth, senior Hudson Holt was seventh and freshman Thomas Girolamo placed ninth.
“I’m really, really proud of the kids,” said Huskies coach Bill Trachtman. “I just think we have a lot of good kids who are working hard and striving to improve.”
University also had a solid meet, with the boys team placing third and the girls team finishing fourth.
Laurel Gough-Mckeown had the best individual finish for the Trailblazers, taking fourth in the girls race. Finlay Reid placed sixth in the boys race.
BOYS MEET
Team scores: Hamilton Heights 38, Clinton Central 85, Lapel 90, University 111, Western Boone 111, Shenandoah 134, Tipton 163, Daleville 166.
Race winner: Simon Nickelson (Lapel) 16:23.6.
Heights runners: 3. Isaiah Heuer 16:44.7, 5. Nicholas Bragg 17:02.8, 7. Hudson Holt 17:25.4, 9. Thomas Girolamo 17:48.1, 14. Charles Wedmore 17:59.8, 15. Will Monnin 18:00.9, 17. Aiden Clarke 18:19.7, 25. Finn Bowen 19:07.2, 26. Noah Heuer 19:07.8, 31. Luke Allwardt 19:33.6, 33. Kaden Cantlon 19:42.8, 34. Zane Pritsch 19:43.1, 36. Devin Wright 19:46.1, 37. Levi Heuer 19:46.3, 39. Jack Powell 19:51.5, 42. Lucas Oaks 20:06.6, 44. Jacob Watts 20:11.2, 46. Winston McDonald 20:32.1, 47. Jackson Cantlon 20:32.4, 67. Quinn Nagy 22:58.2, 73. Rowan Devine 23:38.6, 74. Lain Van Elk 23:39.4, 81. Logan Adkins 24:48.1.
University runners: 6. Finlay Reid 17:21.4, 12. Mario Buoscio 17:57.0, 19. Walter Wilson 18:22.2, 50. Rhys Litke 20:36.7, 52. Calvin Xu 21:02.5, 53. Grant Fitzwater 21:05.0, 62. Christopher Hocutt 22:35.3, 68. Sam Tarvin 23:00.6, 75. Gabe Pryor 23:51.4, 76. Luke Cottle 23:56.8, 77. Jayden Wize 24:01.7, 94. Bryson Reid 29:20.7.
Sheridan runners: 84. Emil Kucur 25:26.7, 89. Logan Burch 27:33.4, 90. Liam Grinstead 27:50.9.
GIRLS RACE
Team scores: Hamilton Heights 22, Western Boone 66, University 80, Lapel 117, Shenandoah 122, Clinton Central 123.
Race winner: Allie Bushey (Hamilton Heights) 18:41.9.
Other Heights runners: 2. Lillian Higgins 19:33.7, 5. Matilda Higgins 20:14.5, 6. Anna Monnin 20:20.3, 8. Ayla Madara 20:49.9, 9. Amira Leer 21:26.1, 14. Selah Heuer 22:52.9, 15. Hattison Graham 22:55.6.
University runners: 4. Laurel Gough-Mckeown 20:02.0, 12. Raya Stennis 22:34.9, 17. Navya Shah 23:32.5, 29. Duygu Arseven 25:48.7, 33. Helen Ernst 26:03.6, 41. Delaney Blair 28:17.7, 44. Karmen Bond 29:47.6, 45. Brynn Kary 29:52.9, 54. Evie Vanrooy 36:20.4.
Sheridan runners: 47. Madison Bridwell 30:11.5, 49. Murphy Buskirk 30:25.8, 51. Kailee Barnette 30:41.8, 55. Isabella Stapleton 36:42.9.
