The Wayland boys’ cross-country team served notice to the O-K Gold Conference Wednesday that it’s a contender this fall for the league crown.
The Wildcats, loaded with returning lettermen from the 2021 team, captured second place in the first league jamboree at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids. They finished second behind cross power Forest Hills Eastern, with team point totals checking in at 35 and 84.
The Lady Wildcats, meanwhile, settled for sixth place among the eight teams.
Senior leader Devin Weaver was sixth in 17:03 to pace Wayland. Sophomore Dylan Pallett took 13th in 17:23.77, senior Travis Koon was 12th in 18:00.10 and junior teammate Isaac Dyer was one place behind him in 18:00.17. Junior James Butler rounded out the scoring by taking 26th in 18:31.53.
Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills finished third in the team derby, 11 points behind the ‘Cats.
Senior ace Olivia Barabas paced the Lady Wildcats, crossing the finish line in 20:21.32, good for seventh. Senior Noelle House edged out junior Elliot Antel for 20th place, 22:09.94 to 22:10.48. Rounding out the scoring were Emma Thayer in 42nd place and Emily Tuinstra in 64th.
Forest Hills Eastern won the girls’ race as well and South Christian was runner-up.
