Though the Wayland girls’ cross-country team saw a lot of success in the early stages of this season, it is learning a difficult lesson — the O-K Gold Conference is extremely tough.

The Lady Wildcats, who won one invitational and was second in another, placed fourth among the five teams competing in the second league jamboree Wednesday on their home course.

The Wildcat boys, meanwhile, fared a little better by claiming third in the field of five. They had 74 points to edge Hastings by two. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg won it with 43 and Grand Rapids Catholic Central was second with 52.

Boys’ coach Steve Harcourt reported, “Our Wayland athletes ran well today. Derek Huffman, Ethan Killips, Josh, Joe, and Jacob ran course best times. Perry Carter, Owen Glass, and JonZuiderveen are still running towards All-Conference honors.”

Middleville TK also won the girls’ race with 28 points, South Christian had 33, Catholic Central 76, Wayland 111 and Hastings 121. Kaitlyn Paul was 14th to lead the Lady Wildcats in 21:59, followed by
Mackenzy Kasper, 24th, 22:12; Payton Sidebotham, 25th, 22:36; Zoe Antel 29th, 22:43, and
33rd, Maggie Whitney, 23:27.

Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills does not field either a boys’ or girls’ cross-country team.

PHOTO: Mackenzy Kasper running in the Wayland woods. (Photo courtesy of Raymond Antel III)