Rugby High School’s varsity cross country teams came away the winners of the Beulah-Hazen MIZON Invitational Tuesday at the Black Sands Golf Course in Beulah.

Led by Quinn Neppl-who finished first out of 52 runners-Rugby’s varsity girls took first out of 12 teams. Other finishers included Karsyn Hager (5th), Keely Arnston (6th), Mykell Heidlebaugh (11th), Kendyl Hager (12th), Ellie Duchscherer (13th), Brooklyn Bartsch (23rd), Megan Schmaltz (24th), Rylie Suchor (27th), Mikaylee Livedalen (29th), Annie Risovi (32nd), Ella Jacobson (39th), Kristina Brossart (47th), Braelynn Oppen (52nd). Rugby girls had a 51-point advantage over the next closest team, Bowman County (86).

With 2nd and 3rd place finishes by Riley Zachmeier and Kadin Neppl, respectively, the Rugby varsity boys took first place overall, edging out second place Bowman County by a 9-point margin (65 to 74). Other finishers for the boys were Dawson Schepp (13th), Austin Dibble (16th), Robert Dibble (31st), Ridley Odden (42nd), Malachi Dosch (53rd) and Trenton Sanford (91st).

Rugby girls, boys place at Blue/White

Buoyed by top 10 placings by Quinn Neppl and Zachmeier, both Rugby High School’s varsity girls and boys cross country teams finished in the top 10 of more than 20 teams last week in Valley City.

At the Bill Jansen Blue/White Invitational, Neppl’s fourth place finish out of 104 runners helped pave the way for a fourth place overall finish for the Rugby varsity girls. Other finishers for Rugby were Karsyn Hager (22nd), Heidlebaugh (25th), Duchscherer (36th), Kendyl Hager (39th), Schmaltz (65th), Suchor (68th), Livedalen (77th) and Brossart (94th).

Zachmeier’s seventh place finish out of 124 runners, and Kadin Neppl’s 15th place finish helped lead to a sixth place overall finish for the Rugby varsity boys. Other finishers were Schepp (30th), Austin Dibble (42nd), Robert Dibble (57th), Odden (85th) and Dosch (103rd).

The teams are competing today in Jamestown, and the teams will be at home next week at the Rugby Golf Course.

– Tribune Staff Report