Keller claims third title

Josh Keller continued his streak on Tuesday at the Mt. Pleasant Invitational on Tuesday night.

The Columbus senior claimed his third consecutive individual meet title, claiming the small-school race in 17:25, 18 seconds behind the overall winner, Logan Murray of Mt. Pleasant.

Keller?s success helped lead the Wildcats to a sixth place team finish, as he was followed by Marc Estrada?s 30th-place finish (20:55) and Tucker Morrison?s 37th-place finish (21:31).

Diego Sanchez finished in 38th place with a 21:33, J.D Lekwa took 39th with a 21:34 and Erick Cantarero finished in 40th with a 21:48 to round out the boys? team.

The Columbus girls were led by Ashley Canny, who earned her second medal of the season after taking 11th place with a PR of 23:16 at the meet.

She was followed by Grace Chapman?s 30th-place finish (25:45), Melisa Maldonado?s 34th-place finish (27:03), and Andrea Rodriguez?s 27:13 for 35th place.

?Ashley and Josh had really good nights again,? Columbus head coach Steve Riley said. ?Josh was not feeling well with a cold, but he actually was closer to Murray tonight than he was last week at Fort Madison. Ashley is starting to come around at about the same time she did last year, when she had a really good season.?

The Wildcats will next run at Clear Creek Amana on Monday night.