Rugby’s varsity cross-country classes laid out the welcome mat over the weekend as 32 teams from across the state came to compete at the 29th Annual Rugby Booster Club Invitational hosted at the Rugby Golf Club.

With Rugby reclaiming its first ranked spot in the girls’ division from rival Bowman County after earning the title as the best North Dakota squad at the N.D. Border Battle on Sept. 30, they came ready to face serious competition on both sides, preparing to defend their girls’ rank against Kindred, Hillsboro Central Valley, Killdeer and many others

The boys’ team faced off against these teams as well but also added New Town to the long competitor list, ensuring a tough face off for both varsity teams.

Boys

While Owen Johnson of Northern Cass would finish first and win the title, New Town took the first spot in the team rankings with a score of 59 for the boys and have three of its runners place in the top 10, with Xavier Bell taking the second spot followed by Ben Dubois in third and Lander Lahtinen taking seventh.

Rugby’s Brayden Green took the ninth-place spot and the only one for Rugby to place in the top 10 while Holdyn Jacobson secured his spot for the top 20 after placing 16. Rugby finished fourth in the team rankings with a score of 181, following New Town in first with a score of 59, Hillsboro/Central Valley in second with a 115, and Devils Lake in third with a 147 score.

Girls

Rugby raced its way to the higher rankings as runners Hannah Senechal and Brooklyn Bartsch both placed in the top 10 of the race as Senechal took second with a time of 20:27:52 followed by Bartsch in third with a run time of 20:32:56. The top spot for the race was filled by Addie Miller of Killdeer who finished with a run time of 20:11:32.

Following Rugby’s second and third placements would be Hillsboro/Central Valley’s Lily Kaldor who placed fourth and is followed by teammate Myla Kaldor for fifth and finishing the top five.

Keyara Lundstrom and Amelia Shepard both placed in the top 20 with Lundstrom placing 13 and Shepard placing 19.

Hillsboro/Central Valley took first today ahead of Rugby with a team score of 49 with Rugby scoring 60 and claiming second place.

Rugby boys’ finishers: 9. Brayden Green, 17:40.61. 16. Holdyn Jacobson, 18:05.11. 27. Jenner Johnson, 18:34.07. 42. Austin Duchscher, 19:04.76. 87. Maddex Kirchofner, 20:21.86. 96. Connor Klein, 20:39.99. 148. Damien Herman, 22:13.43. 166. Dane Whorley, 22:54.45.

Rugby girls’ finishers: 2. Hannah Senechal, 20:27.52. 3. Brooklyn Bartsch, 20:32.36. 13. Keyara Lundstrom, 21:22.05. 19. Amelia Shepard, 21:57.50. 23. Ashlyn Dibble, 22:07.30. 26. Kathryn Kuntz, 22:12.40. 37. Mya McNeff, 22:42.43. 47. Jaelyn Lunde, 22:57.47. 72. Sara Schmaltz, 23:52.91. 75. Mauvlyn Kirchofner, 24:05.14. 89. Kinsey Arnston, 24:39.25. 95. Rylah Hager, 24:58.63.