The Big Lake boys varsity cross-country team finished third of 11 teams at the Princeton Invitational Meet last Thursday at Fairway Shores Golf Course in Zimmerman.

It was the first meet of the season for the Hornets.

Gavin Flavin led the Hornets with a second place finish in 16:30.1. That time was faster than any time Flavin ran last season.

Trent Erickson crossed the finish line in eighth in 17:18, with Theo Johnson not far behind in 12th in 17:37.5.

Jack Schmidt took 24th in 18:35.1. Eli Henning was 29th in 19:00.9 and Max Baron placed 32nd in 19:13.1. There were 121 total finishers in the race.

Final team scores were: Becker 49, Heritage Christian 62, Big Lake 75, Cambridge-Isanti 105, Pine City 147, Princeton 178, Elk River 201, Monticello 201, Spectrum 205, Zimmerman 210 and Braham 305.

The varsity girls were led by Shay France. The ninth-grader  took 16th overall in 21:30.3.

The Hornets’ top seven scorers were comprised of eighth and ninth graders who ran well in their first meet of the year.

Hazel Guldseth was 35th in 24:32.5, Elsie Jagusch placed 41st in 24:59.1. Clara Devine took 47th in 25:49.8. Aubri Judge finished 51st in 27:21. Ainsley McGuire was 53rd in 28:08.2 and Chloe Howe took 62nd in 28:23.9.

The Hornets compete against 13 other schools in an invitational meet at Bertram Regional Park today (Saturday). Results next week. They run at Southbrook Golf Course in Annandale Tuesday at 4:15 p.m.