Newton middle school runners compete at home meet

NEWTON — Newton’s middle school cross country teams competed in Tuesday’s 37th Newton Cardinal Invitational at Westwood Golf Course.

The seventh- and eighth-grade boys combined for 176 points for eighth place in the two-mile race. Johnston won the boys’ title with 52 points.

There were 10 teams in the middle school boys competition.

In the middle school girls’ division, Newton’s seventh- and eighth-grade girls were ninth with 273 points. Ames was first with 64 points in a field of 11 teams.

Eighth-grader Jack Callaghan led Newton, finishing sixth in 11 minutes, 21 seconds. Matt Moran, a seventh-grader, was 15th in 11:52.

Others running for Newton’s boys were: Ross Hill,12:59; Tyler Daffitto, 13:08; Connor Moon, 13:10; Gavin Aalbers, 13:21; Dylan Main,13:36; Nathan Miller, 14:22; Chad Nolin, 14:22; Nathan Simon, 14:37; Alex Burkett, 14:46; Isaac Friedman, 15:18; Colin McAnally, 15:37; Preston Sherwood, 16:19; Nate Vanzee, 16:42; Mitchell Faidley, 16:43; Jon Noble, 16:50; Michael Hodnett, 18:33; Chace Steinbach, 23:30.

Three seventh-graders led the Newton girls. Rachel Rhoads was 33rd in 13:35, followed by Abbie Barr in 49th at 14:11, and Kaelynn Briley in 61st at 15:16.

Others running for Newton’s girls were: Rylie Bakalar, 15:23; Jensen Pauley, 15:37, Lane Dethrow, 15:52; Marcelina Marvelli, 16:22; RaeAnna McClelland, 17:29.

There were 243 runners in the boys’ race and 248 in the girls’ race.