The Big Lake boys cross country team placed three runners in the top seven and went on to take the team title at the Annandale Invitational last Tuesday. It was their third team win in three meets this season

Jack Leuer led the Hornets with a second-place finish in 16:20.

“Jack hung back with our 2-3-4 runners and helped pace them for the first two miles before attacking the last mile,” said Coach Todd Trutna.

Gavin Flavin cracked the 17-minute mark and took sixth in 16:57.9. Judd Layton was close behind in seventh in 17:07.9.

Theo Johnson was 14th in 18:28.9 followed by Trent Erickson a few steps back in 15th in 18:30.9.

Max Baron (29th, 19:13.7) and Gavin Vold (39th, 20:09) were the teams sixth and seventh runners.

Final team scores were: Big Lake 44, Annandale 62, St. Cloud Tech 93, Litchfield 106, Legacy Christian Academy 118, Spectrum 158, Eden Valley-Watkins 167, Maple Lake 193, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 213.

For the girls varsity, eighth-grader Greta Layton almost broke the 20-minute mark and was third overall in 20:04.5 to lead the team.

Campbell Slattery had her best time of the season and took eighth in 21:12.5. The other three finishers for the Hornets were Erin Kjellberg (25:29.5), Alayna Boe (30:43.6) and Brynn Scheer (30:48.5)

The boys junior varsity team finished second. Eli Henning took the top spot with a time of 19:32. Jack Schmidt followed in second place in 19:34. Lucas Stevenson took sixth with a time of 20:23.

“One of the strengths of this team is when our top JV runners can push for those varsity spots.” said Coach Trutna. “It ensures that no one becomes complacent on the varsity squad.”

Logan Phillips led the junior high boys placing third in 11:12. Jamisen Nusbaum was eighth with a time of 11:58 as the boys finished third as a team.

Elsie Jagush took eighth in 13:27.4 and Hazel Guldseth was ninth in 13:32.4 for the girls junior high team.

“Overall, we had 12 runners finish in the top 10 of their races,” said Coach Trutna. “The coaches love to see meets like this, where the athletes’ hard work comes through in solid performances.”

The Hornets competed in an 18-team meet at River Oaks Golf Course in Cold Spring Thursday, results next week.