With three runners in the top 13, the Harrisburg girls claimed first place in the Boonville Cross Country Invitational on Tuesday.

Olivia Fischer finished 12th for the Bulldogs with a time of 24:04 and Emma Fischer was next across the finish line just 12 seconds later.

It wasn’t her fastest time of the season, but Baylie Combs led Harrisburg with a third-place finish and a time of 22:28.

“Coming in to it, I thought I would run a fast time because it seemed pretty flat with just that one hill,” Combs said.

Softball has prevented Combs from participating in the Boonville Invitational in the past, so it was the senior’s first trip around the course near the Boonslick Heartland YMCA.

A large hill is the most challenging feature of the course, but Combs was able to use it her advantage.

“I liked it in the sense that, you go up the hill, but you get the downhill effect too and that really helps mentally and physically when you run the course,” Combs said.

Madison Hessell finished 27th with a time of 25:50 and Katie Starbuck finished nine seconds later in 28th to help Harrisburg finish three points ahead of second-place Salisbury and six points ahead of meet host Boonville.

Glasgow’s KatiJo Schaeffer left with a medal after her 10th place finish of 23:50.

"There was a lot of tough competition,” said New Franklin coach Adam Quest.

“There were several larger schools in attendance, and the races were all very fast. Our best placed runner was Mallori Burnett, who, despite battling a nagging injury, finished in 23rd place overall.

“Douglass Creason ran a great race as well, finishing in 34th place. Logan Pierce ran a season best time of 26:44."

Glasgow freshman Colton Sellmeyer finished 46th out of 69 runners with a time of 23:45.

Varsity Girls Results
1. Alexandra Sharp Brookfield 20:26
3. Baylie Combs Harrisburg 22:28
10. KatiJo Schaefer Glasgow 23:50
12. Olivia Fischer Harrisburg 24:04
13. Emma Fischer Harrisburg 24:16
23. Mallori Burnett N Franklin 25:39
27. Madison Hessell Harrisburg 25:50
28. Katie Starbuck Harrisburg 25:59
31. Abigail Rosson Harrisburg 27:21
38. Tehya Sellmeyer Glasgow 29:33
40. Victoria Gibson Higbee 30:23
42. Jill Davidson Harrisburg 31:05
46 Jamila Whilte Glasgow 34:33

Varsity Boys Results
1. Sam Wilhelm Knob Noster 16:44
34. Douglass Creason N Franklin 22:27
46. Colton Sellmeyer Glasgow 23:45
61. Logan Pierce N Franklin 26:44