Keller claims fifth straight meet title

The streak continued on Thursday night for Columbus? Josh Keller.

The Wildcat senior claimed his fifth-straight individual title at the Winfield-Mount Union cross-country invitational, running a 16:28 over the 5,000-meter course.

The time marked a personal best for Keller, who will go for his sixth-straight meet title at the Wildcats? home meet on Monday at Cedarcrest Golf Course.

Fellow senior Ashley Canny helped lead the Columbus girls? team by taking 11th place overall, running a personal best of 22:40 over the course.

Canny was followed by Grace Chapman?s 21st-place finish (23:50) at the meet, followed by Jenessa Carpenter (26th, 25:19), Melissa Maldonado (27th, 25:19) and Andrea Rodriguez (32nd, 26:08).

The girls? team took fourth place as a team at the meet.

Behind Keller, Armando Quiroz was the next finisher for the Columbus boys? team, taking 23rd place with an 18:48.

Mark Estrada (30th, 19:13), Diego Sanchez (33rd, 19:49), J.D. Lekwa (34, 19:55) and Tucker Morrison (40th, 20:18), rounded out the runners for the Wildcat boys, who finished in sixth place at the meet.

?The weather was great for running, in the 60s, plus I think it was a fast course and our kids are beginning to peak,? Columbus head coach Steve Riley said. ?We start our championship season next week, and this was a good start to it.?

The Wildcats host the Mike Jay Invitational on Monday, followed by hosting the conference meet on Thursday.