A small meet at the Harvey Country Club in Wells County Tuesday gave Rugby Panthers cross country runners a chance to “relax and just run without having to worry about time and place,” according to Rugby High Coach Bill Jansen.

Unlike the crowded, muddy meet last weekend in Minot for more than 40 Class A and B schools, the Harvey/Wells County Invitational hosted nine teams, and the Panthers took advantage of good weather to finish at the top.

“Most of our kids that have been running junior high ran their first 5k of the year, which is always exciting,” Jansen said of the race.

Jansen said a meet scheduled for Thursday in Cooperstown was cancelled due to weather concerns.

The Panther varsity girls placed first in team points for their 5000-meter event and swept the number 1 through 5 spots among finishers.

Quinn Neppl placed first for Rugby with a time of 21 minutes and 18 seconds. Amelia Shepard placed second with a time of 21:39; Kelly Arnston placed third with a time of 22:25 and Ellie Duchscherer placed fourth with a time of 23:02; Mykell Heidlebaugh placed fifth with a time of 23:03; Mikaylee Livedalen finished in seventh place with a time of 23:28, and Ashlyn Dibble’s 23:31 finish earned the eighth place spot.

Due to an equipment malfunction, finish times in the girls’ event were not available after 12th place.

Other finishers in the girls’ varsity 5000-meter event were: Megan Schmaltz, 13th place; Rylie Suchor, 14th place; Rylah Hager, 15th place; Kinsey Arnston, 16th place; Mya McNeff, 17th place; Jaclyn Duchscherer 19th place; Haley Mayer, 20th place; Mya Geisinger, 23rd place; Kristina Brossart, 24th place; Anna Clements 25th place and Sophie Oppen, 35th place.

Panther varsity boys also took first place for point totals as a team in their 5000-meter event and placed at the top for individual times.

First place went to Rugby’s Dawson Schepp with a time of 18 minutes, eight seconds. Austin Dibble placed second with a time of 18:18 and Kadin Neppl took fifth place with a time of 19:15.

Other Rugby finishers and times for the event were: Robert Dibble, 17th place, 20:08; Riley Odden, 21st place, 20:44; Kristian Fritz, 37th place, 23:06; Connor Klein, 39th place, 23:41; Tenton Sanford, 45th place, 24:27; Maddex Kirchofner, 48th place, 24:41 and Ethan Sveet, 49th place, 24:45.

Junior Varsity runner Mattisyn Jacobson’s 19:36 time in the 3000-meter girls’ event earned her ninth place, and the junior varsity Lady Panthers finished fourth overall in team points.