The Wayland High School boys’ cross-country team commenced what promises to be a good season Monday by edging the Grand Rapid Track Club Peregrines to win a three-way meet on its home course.
The Wildcats checked in with 28 team points, GRTC had 29 and Hopkins 77. Meanwhile, the Lady Wildcats settled for second place behind GRTC with 55 points and Hopkins had 57.
Senior Devin Weaver was medalist for the day with a time of 17:48.69, 10 seconds ahead of his closest rival from GRTC and a fine start to overcoming “Big Bertha.”
Teammates junior Isaac Dyer, senior Travis Koon and sophomore Dylan Pallett came through with fourth, fifth and sixth place finishes with five-kilometer times of 18:37:09, 18:39.03 and 18:39.30, respectively.
Junior James Butler came in 12th to seal the victory by the thinnest of margins, with a time of 19:51.77.
All five of the Wildcat top finishers are returning lettermen and they have their sights set on making some noise in the always tough O-K Gold Conference this year.
Freshman Jack Estelle was 17th for Hopkins to pac e the Vikings’ effort, with a clocking of 2);25.89. He was followed by sophomore Kenyon Katje (22nd), freshman Vijay DeZeeuw, freshman Adam Halsted and freshman Brennan Viala.
Olivia Barabas, now a four-year senior standout, took third place for the Wayland girls with a time of 22:00.55. She was followed by senior Noelle House (10th), junior Elliot Antel (13th), Emma Thayer and Ruby Sidebotham.
For Hopkins, sophomore Kambria Moored led the way in sixth place at 22:51.51.9, followed by senior Neveah Helderop (seventh), junior Jaeden Harshberger (11th), freshman Allison Breining (23rd) and junior Abigail Zalis (24th).
