EVART — It came down to one point in the boys White Division of the Evart Cross County Invitational on Saturday at Springhill Camps.
Bear Lake-Onekama had 41 points, followed by Evart with 42, Hesperia with 67, Manton with 73 and Mason County Eastern with 127.
The Woods brothers led the Wildcats with Josh Woods (17:29) in second (17:29.4) and Nathan Woods in fourth (17:44.1).
Also for Evart, Alex Hamilton (18:18.6) had a personal record for sixth and twin brother Austin Hamilton (18:18.9) was seventh.
“It went really well,” Alex Hamilton said. “It was perfect conditions. The beginning of the season wasn’t going as good as we had hoped. We really have stepped it up these past three meets.”
Taking places 24 through 26 were Jacob Quist (19:44.4), Parker Henry (19:50.4) and Tanner Ryan (20:08.1).
“They looked fast, they looked strong,” Evart coach Kevin Mills said. “We got some PRs today on a really tough course. The future is really looking bright.”
The Evart girls team placed third with 75, finishing behind Manton with 25.
Sarah Nelson was sixth (22:48.8), Brooke Belleville ninth (23:15.1), Arianna Mooney 19th (25:39.8), Rose Clark 24th (28:32.6), and Grace Green 28th (33:21.3).
“This isn’t the hardest course, but it’s not a fast easy course,” Mills said. “From the mile to the mile and a half is all gradual uphill. You’ve got some turns and some trails, which are somewhat slower.”
“Pine River boys were eighth and the girls fourth in the Blue Division.
Mark Geer was 28th (19:56.9), Sam Pentces 46th (21:35.9), Kaden Darrow 54th (23:23.4), Dominick Cousino 57th (23:48.5), Wade Fullerton 58th (23:52.9) and Austin LaFrance 68th (26:12.8).
For the Pine River girls, Anne Lindquist was eighth (22:34.1) with a personal record, while Kelsi Charles was 19th (24:09.5), Holly Bailer 28th (24:53.8), Jordan Dery 33rd (26:305), Grace Beebe 41st (28;08.3) Jasmyn Pacola 45th (28:38.8), Kenzie Ruppert 48th (29:21.8), Amber Breault 48th (29;21.8) and Alexis Beebe 51st (29:47.6).
Bucks coach Andi Bogart now has full teams for both boys and girls.
“Our boys are building,” Bogart said. “On the girls end, we took fourth, but without our top two runners due to illness and a family commitment.”
Pine River has its home invitational 9 a.m. on Saturday. Evart is at the Carson City-Crystal Invitational.
