The Columbus Community cross country teams opened their season by competing at the Bob Brown Invitational in Iowa City on Thursday.

The girls’ team placed 12th in the meet with 361 points. Monticello took home the title with 42 points. Leading the way for the Wildcats was senior Jenessa Carpenter with a time of 25:45 for 75th place. Odalyz Valdez was next in line placing 105th with a time of 27:48 and Aaliyah Santos ran in 28:55.

The boys also placed 12th at the meet with a score of 342 points. Mount Vernon and Lisbon tied for the meet title with 40. Senior Marc Estrada looked solid in his debut placing 40th with a time of 19:32. Hunter Humiston placed 61st with a time of 20:11 and Fernando Barajas posted a time of 21:48.

Head Coach of the Wildcats Steve Riley noted, “Our team placings don’t look great, but we ran pretty well to start the season.”  Eleven of the 23 Wildcat runners set personal records in the meet.

The Wildcats will next be in action tomorrow traveling to Keota.