Though both the Wayland High School cross-country sports only the minimum of five runners, they continue to be competitive in O-K Gold Conference jamborees.
The Wildcats boys took fourth place in the latest league gathering at South Christian’s athletic complex Wednesday and the girls came in fifth.
The boys accumulated 91 team points and were just nine points away from third place Middleville Thornapple Kellogg. Host South Christian won with 47.
Once again, senior Dylan Pallett led Wayland, this time with a third place finish, 17:06.17 on the 5,000-meter course. Three teammates finished among the top 20, with Mason Fein taking 12th in 18:37.39, just .003 away from 11th, Ethan Manning 13th in 18:39.83, newcomer Alberto Mandujandro 17th in 19:05.42 and Arquimedes Miguel-Garcia 64th.
The Lady Wildcats accumulated 139 points and once again South Christian finished first with 22.
Freshman Abree VanDenBrink led Wayland with a 25th-place finish in 23:20.18, followed by Megan Stack in 42nd, Sarah Osborn in 43rd, Ashley Laren in 53rd and Heli Ryhanean 57th.
The Wildcats will resume action at the Allegan Invitational Saturday, Oct. 5.
