For our cross country squad, the kinks are out, the injuries are healing, and Coach Meg Mavity & Company pieced together a good day on a tough course Saturday morning at the Wesleyan Invitational in Norcross.
 
It was a 10-team event – HI raced 41 kids in three races under rather cool temperatures and managed to beat a rain that was earlier in the week predicted. Ten competed in the boys' varsity race, 10 more in girls' varsity, and 21 got it done in the combined girls/boys JV event.
 
Starting with the boys, Gavin Miles continues his journey to recovery, as he was our top boy across this time with a 19:35 over the 3.1-mile course. Daniel Hill – only a freshman – continued to raise some eyebrows with his finish behind Gavin in 20:32, and the next three who scored included Bobby Spencer (21:12), Henry Wood (21:16), and Tommy Smith (21:20). 
 
Six through 10 for HI included Harrison Evans, Liam Silhan, Gavin Campos, Graham Goddard, and Thomas Stotts.
 
On the girls' side, Ellison Losin continues to get better – she was our top girl for the second straight week in turning in a 22:57. Right behind her was Beatrice Jones (23:29), Brooke Hausmann, Brooke Benedict, and Belle Moore.
 
The rest of the 10, in order, were Cate Wassenaar, Blair Huber, Olivia Sharper, Grayson Whitty, and Claire Wilhelm. It was Whitty and Wilhelm's first varsity race.
 
In the final event, every team emptied their roster onto the course, and HI was no exception as 11 boys and 10 girls took to the hilly fields. The top five girls for us were Jocelyn Garcia, Penny Kent, Madison Angell, Kate Frank, and Melina Khademi, while the Fab Five boys included Bobby Shapiro, Matthew George, Chase Warbington, Fernando Notario, and Jackson Mullins.
 
Looking ahead, there's no rest for the weary as our Running Bears will compete in the Asics Invitational next Saturday before getting a deserved break.