Ellsworth High School runner Byron Johnson was Ellsworth’s top finisher and the Bearcats lone varsity medalist during the Ellsworth Invitational Cross Country Meet Oct. 4 in Ellsworth.

Johnson, a senior, placed sixth overall.

Coach Eric Coonrod described it as Johnson’s “best finishing place and best finishing time in his last 5K race on the Ellsworth course.”

“After a conservative start Byron worked his way back to the top five or six by the mid-way point in the race, and ended up four seconds from fifth at the finish line,” Coonrod said. “The rest of the guys ran strong first and second miles, but the hills and terrain took their tolls during their third miles. Trenton Holmes ran almost a minute faster on our course than his time last year, while Aidan Johnson was almost a minute and a half faster than his time last year. Billy Duncan continues to improve after the early season injury, he ran close to his season best time on our tough course. Grayson Stone had a key pass on a Republic County runner to help the team finish in fifth place overall.”

In the varsity girls races, Coonrod said Ellsworth’s Kate Rathbun ran about her average first and second miles, and ended the race in 26th place.

“Addison Thomas was not far behind Kate in 29th place,” Coonrod said. “Both girls ran smart races, with a more conservative start since it was a lot more challenging terrain than we’ve raced on all season.”

On Sept. 27, the Ellsworth High School cross country runners competed at Lyons High School.

On the high school boy’s side, senior Byron Johnson once again led the scoring.

“He won the race last year, and defended that victory well with another first place gold medal again this year, a few seconds off his career best time,” Coonrod said.

The boys’ team scoring was led by senior Byron Johnson.

“Holmes had another strong week, with his fastest first mile of the season, and two of his strongest second and third miles of the season as well,” Coonrod said. “He was three seconds off his personal best time, finishing in 15th, winning the last medal in the boys race.”

Stone had his fastest first mile of the season, and was a few seconds off his season best time, finishing in 27th. Aidan Johnson had his fastest first mile of the season as well, finishing in 37th place.

Duncan also ran his fastest first mile of the season, finishing in 39th place overall.

The boys’ team placed fifth overall.

Bearcat varsity girls

On the high school girls’ side, Rathbun finished one position out of the medals in 16th place. Thomas wasn’t far off her season best time, finishing in 20th overall.

“The race took on a very fast pace early on and both girls had great race starts with strong first miles, and both finished strong as the race ended on the Lyons track,” Coonrod said.

The results for the Bearcats were: High School Varsity girls 5K

• Kate Rathbun, 16th place, 26:17.

• Addison Thomas 20th place, 26:50.

High School Varsity boys 5K

• Byron Johnson, first place medalist, 17:06. (This was the second year he was a gold metal winner at Lyons).

• Trenton Holmes, 15th place medalist, and first time varsity metalist, 20:00.

• Grayson Stone, 27th place, 21:35.

• Aidan Johnson, 37th place, 24:57.

• Billy Duncan, 39th place, 27:30.