Mertens wins at North Linn

NORTH LINN - It was another day and another win for Cody Mertens. Mertens shined at the North Linn invite on Saturday where both Panther teams were competing.

Mertens won the boys' race in 16:45., which was over 12 seconds faster than second place Luke Post of Center Point-Urbana. That led the Panther boys to a seventh-place finish with 211 points.

Dalton Moyle was the second Panther across, finishing in 18:06. for 20th place. Drake Snavely placed 52nd, in 18:55. Logan White was 69th, in 19:20. Dakota Triska finished the day in 75th, with a time of 19:26. Nick McCormick was 83rd, in 19:35, and Luke Ryon placed 118th, in 20:59.

The girls' team finished eighth place with 217 points. It was Abby Ryon who led the way again for the Panthers. She finished the day in third place, crossing the tape in 20:07.

Cristina Carthey was 38th, in 22:13. Maggie Jennings finished 54th, in 22:31. Claire Holtkamp (22:51) and Monroe Swain (22:53) were 64th and 65th respectively. Abby Blint was right behind Swain in 66th, with a time of 22:53, and Kendall Dascher placed 82nd, in 23:20.