Covid or no Covid, the Wayland and Hopkins boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams opened the season Monday afternoon with a tri-meet that included Kelloggsville.

The Wildcat girls defeated the guest opponents both by scores of 18-45. The boys’ squad bested Hopkins 18-45 by was edged by the Rockets 27-28.

The Hopkins boys defeated Kelloggsville 26-31, but the Lady Vikings lost 18-37.

The meet was held at the course in back of Wayland Middle School.

Wayland sophomore Olivia Barabas was the female medalist of the meet with a time of 23:24 on the five-kilometer course in 90-degree heat. Freshman teammate Ava Makowski was runner-up in her high school debut and junior Hannah Smith was third overall, followed by senior Naomi Oosterhouse in sixth and Mackenzie VanderWeide in seventh.

Freshman Helena Kerber led Hopkins by taking fifth in 26:19, followed by junior Mary Wells 10th, senior Alexis Zalis 14^th, sophomore Makenna Pendock 18^th and freshman Maddi Houseman 19^th.

Sophomore Travis Koon was individual runner-up in the boys’ race to Christian Martinez of Kelloggsville. Koon finished in 19:53, freshman Isaac Dyer third in 20:37, freshman Henry Oudbier sixth, sophomore Jared Jandernoa ninth and freshman Casey Jansen 11^th.

Junior Adam Ball was the Viking boys’ top finisher in taking fifth in 21:16, Caleb Beilby was 14^th, junior Zachary Wisser 17^th, sophomore Dean Heiden 19^th.

The Wildcats will be back in action Wednesday, Aug. 26.

COVER PHOTO: The Wayland High School girl’s cross-country team: (from left) Emma Thayer, Olivia Barabas, Naomi Oosterhouse, Mackenzie VanderWeide, Ruby Sidebotham, Hannah Smith (in back, Megan Rose), Emma Byers, Elliot Antel, Faith Rollandini and Ava Makowski.