The girls and boys cross country teams kicked off their season Friday night at South Christian High School at the Under the Lights Invititational. In 2023, the girls run first and the Chix started the season with a bang placing their top 6 finishers in the top 20 of the big school division of the Starlight Race. ZE girls finished 1st out of 8 teams with 40 points; Grand Haven (47) and East Grand Rapids (73) rounded out the top 3. Ally Kuzma finished 2nd overall with Emma Drnek right behind her in 3rd, posting a big PR of 19:20.0. Meredith Cook came in 7th, Taryn DiLaura was 11th (also posting a career PR), and Megan Kuzma in 17th. CC Kuras (20th) and Hannah Lewis (34th) rounded out the top 7. 

In the boys race, the team finished 5th out of 7 schools with 131 points behind Grand Haven (37), East Kentwood (49), East Grand Rapids (59) and Cedar Springs (100). Caden Guffey came in 14th place with a PR of 17:12.9 followed by Dylan Walters in 25th. Nate Davis had a strong high school debut coming in 26th place with a time of 17:59.2 followed by Aaiden Gillespie in 33rd setting a new PR (18:24.5). Tristen Hinson finished 37th, Caden Villarreal 38th, and Josiah Muller 45th with a new PR of 18:56.4 to round out the top 7. Jeffrey DeWitt (20:05.7) also posted a career PR for the boys.

XC is back in action Tuesday, September 5th for the first OK Green Jamboree at Reeths Puffer.