It was the best day for Wayland High School cross country in quite a spell Saturday morning, as the boys’ squad captured first place and the girls were runners-up at the Cedar Springs Invitational.
The boys finished three points ahead of the host team with 26 to take the trophy.
The Wildcats nailed five of the top 10 individual places, highlighted by a breakout performance by sophomore Henry Oudbier, who checked fifth with a career-best 17:43.1 on the five-kilometer course.
Devin Weaver again paced the ‘Cats, co[[ing second place with a time of 17:13.8. The other three top 10 finishers were freshman Dylan Pallett, seventh in 17:55.3; Travis Koon, eighth in 18:01.6, and sophomore Isaac Dyer, ninth in 18:10 flat.
The Lady Wildcats were runners-up with 67 points, as Cedar took top honors with 28.
Junior Olivia Barabas, a state qualifier a year ago, was second individually with a season-best 19:38.1. Senior Hannah Smith was 10th in 22:39.5, junior Emily Tuinstra 16th in 23:38.5, junior Emma Thayer 18th in 23;54.3 and freshman Sara Wolowicz 27th in 24:39.3.
Both Wildcat squads will resume O-K Gold Conference jamboree action Tuesday with the next meet hosted by Kenowa Hills.
