The DeKalb Middle School cross country team beat the heat and the competition recently to win the Warrior Invitational.

The event, held at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro was held in stifling heat with highs in the 90s. However, the girls’ squad ran like they were on fire, finishing first out of 15 teams and 122 runners. Their win came over some perennial powerhouse teams like Mt. Juliet Middle and the CSTHEA Patriots out of Chattanooga.

Their top five runners all placed in the top 15 covering the two-mile course. The times included:

Ella Van Vranken    2nd: 12:55

Zoe Keys                3rd:  13:30

Katherine Knowels   7th   13:52

Mylie Phillips           10th 13:52

Madeline Martin      14th  14:26

With the heat of the day setting in the boys’ team gave a solid performance finishing eighth out of a field of 20 teams and 141 runners.  Kaleb Spears finished in the top 20 earning a medal.

Kaleb Spears 18th:  13:08

Ian Colweell 33rd:  13:51

Caleb Gray 47th:   14:09

Cale Brown 62nd:  14:28

Dylan Cathey 72nd:  14:40

Carson Tramel 116th :  16:44

Sam Harris  120th :  16:59

With temps around 90 degrees, the JV girls team placed fifth overall out of a field of eight teams.  Cadence Reynolds was the first girl runner to cross the line for DeKalb with at time of 18:55, finishing 23rd out of a field of 82 girls.  Followed by:

Sylvia Evans  28th  19:12

Candice Rico  39th  20:05

Sadie Moore  40th   20:13

Mara Oakly    50th   20:58

JV Boys: 

Ethan Spears 1st runner for DeKalb:  18;51

Freddy Oberdier :  10:19

Jackson Hodges:  10:32

Mason Taylor:   22:56