Sawyer Spence.

DIKE — Both the Union and North Tama cross country teams traveled to Fox Ridge Golf Course in Dike on Tuesday, Oct. 7, to compete in the stacked Dike-New Hartford Invite.

In the boys race, senior Sawyer Spence cruised to a 10th place medal finish with a season-best time of 17 minutes, 7 seconds, to pace the Knights, leading his team to 15th place out of 22 scoring teams with 406 points. His teammate, sophomore Tristan Keister finished 67th, racing to a personal record (PR) of 19:20. Rounding out the Knights boys varsity squad, freshman Phineas Beerman was 98th (20:23), junior Ian Grimm 128th (21:34), and freshman Anderson Karr 132nd (21:45).

North Tama did not field any runners in the boys varsity race.

Grundy Center defending state champion Emerson Vokes claimed the gold medal in 15:07 in the boys race. Grinnell won the team title with 50 points, finishing ahead of Denver (98) and Benton Community (141).

Union was paced in the girls varsity race by senior Brynn Albertsen who crossed in 41st, setting a season best with a time of 21 minutes, 55 seconds. Olivia Schildroth, a freshman, scored 47th place in 22:07 to PR. Addie Tudor was 55th (22:26), Kayla Toenges 73rd (22:53-PR), and Katie Jackson 107th (24:43). Union placed 14th overall out of 16 scoring teams.

North Tama was led by junior Rachael Murty, who took 23rd place in 21:09.7, setting a PR. Her teammate, sophomore Shawna Cibula also earned a PR, placing 31st in 21:32.1. Also in the mix for the Redhawks, sophomore Isla Breakenridge finished 78th (23:06-PR), senior Gabby Seda 84th (23:21), and Aniston Cooper 88th (23:26). North Tama took 12th place with 277 points.

Osage senior ​​Scarlett Byrnes took gold in the girls race with 18:51. West Marshall won the team title with 90 points, finishing ahead of Sumner-Fredericksburg (115) and Dike-New Hartford (136).