The Hopkins girls’ varsity cross-country team opened its 2024 season with a reasonably successful performance at the “Under the Lights” meet at the South Christian athletic complex, taking seventh place among 16 teams with 229 team points.

The Viking boys, under second-year coach John Wamhoff, finished 10th among the 20 teams competing, with a team total of 259 points and Wayland wasn’t far behind at 13th with 348.

The Wayland girls’ squad, with only five harriers, checked in 14th.

It was a big night for Hopkins junior boys’ ace Jack Estelle, who raised more than a few eyebrows by taking fourth place with a terrific five-kilometer time of 16:42.7.

Wayland senior Dylan Pallett turned in a fine performance at 17:08.45, good for 12th place.

Freshman Kash Moored gave a promising performance in his first varsity meet, finishing 39th in 18:05.4. Rounding out the Viking boy 53rd,coring were Kenyon Katje 53rd, Isaiah Robinson 91st and Ryan Williams 92nd. 

For Wayland, Mason Fein was 47th, Ethan Manning 49th, Ryan Lawrence 165th and Arquimedes Miguel 194th.

Junior Allison Breining led the way for the Hopkins girls, finishing 32nd 22:13.9. Kambria Moored was 37th, Lillian Dewey 53rd, Shyanna Buskirk 81st and Navy Ingle 91st.

Freshman Ashley Larsen led the Wayland girls with a time of 24:24.2, good for 83rd place. She was followed by Abree VanDenBrink 97th, Heli Ryhaene 162nd, Megan Stack 164th and Sarah Osborn 174th.