Wildcats have a tough night at the Mediapolis Invitational

The Columbus girls? cross-country team placed fourth and the Wildcat boys were fifth at Thursday?s Mediapolis Invitational at the Indian Hills Golf and Country Club, but head coach Steve Riley said that injuries hindered the Wildcats? performances.

?It wasn?t our best effort of the season, but we had some kids who have been hurting with minor injuries,? he said.

Still, three Wildcats finished in the top 15 at the meet. Junior Eli Sents took eighth place in 17:19 to lead the Columbus boys, while senior Caitlin Chaney and sophomore Taylor Hills finished 10

^th

and 12

^th

, respectively, for the Wildcat girls. Chaney recorded a time of 17:05, and Hills crossed the finish line in 17:37.

Freshman Grace Chapman came in 17

^th

in 18:18 for the Columbus girls, and freshman Ashley Canny crossed the finish line 20 seconds later in 18

^th

place. Sophomore Claire Hamilton?s 20

^th

-place finish in 18:46 rounded out the scoring. Junior Yvette Aguilar finished 22

^nd

in 19:11, and junior Rebecca Neri was 24

^th

in 19:53.

Freshman Josh Keller finished 27

^th

in 18:58 for the Columbus boys, and senior Mitchell Roush was 30

^th

in 19:10. Junior Dalton Howell came in 33

^rd

in 19:20, and senior Omar Benitez rounded out the scoring with his 44

^th

-place finish in 21:09. Freshman Adrian Santos finished 48

^th

in 21:39, and freshman Curtis Fuller was 50

^th

in 22:12.

Now the Wildcats have a week to recuperate before they host a Class 2A state qualifying meet at the Cedarcrest Golf and Country Club next Thursday.

?We?re going to gear up and get ready for the district meet next week,? Riley said.