The Bell County cross country team traveled to Perryville on Saturday to compete in the inaugural Battlefield Blitz cross country invitational hosted by Danville Christian Academy and held at the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site.
In girls varsity, freshman Abagail Johnson led the way for the Lady Cats, placing sixth with a time of 23:02.48 for the 5K course. Kaelyn Lyrock placed 21st (26:38.66). Meredith Allen placed 37th (28:15.28), rounding out girls finishers for Bell.
On the boys varsity side, junior Nicholas Stewart led the way for the Bobcats with a seventh-place finish, running a time of 19:15.38 for the 5K. Teammates Braydin Hickey (20:11.59) and Reese Arno (20:17.97) placed 12th and 14th, respectively. Doltan Warren placed 49th, followed by Andrew Hoskins 65th, Jonah Slusher 68th, Landon Eldridge 76th and Ashton Manis 85th. The boys placed fourth out of nine teams.
In middle school and elementary races, seventh grader Tanner Simpson led the way with a fourth place overall finish for the boys middle school. Zara Stewart placed 62nd for girls middle, and Aubreigh Green finished 29th for girls elementary.
“This meet was a good experience for our kids,” said Bell County coach Jason Stewart. “It was tough, hilly, hot and full of great competition. They learned a lot about themselves on this course. I’m proud of all of the hard work I’m seeing at every meet and practice this season. They are all working and getting better. As a coach, that’s all I can ask for. I think October will be a good month for our Bobcats.”
The Bobcats will next compete at the J. Frank White Academy All-Comers on Tuesday and the Trinity/Valkyrie Invitational on Saturday.