Newly-ranked PCM boys finish fourth at Chariton

CHARITON — The PCM boys cross country team got a good look at a trio of ranked teams in Class 2A which it may see later in the season at its state qualifying meet.

And after placing four runners in the top 15, the 2A No. 17 Mustangs finished fourth in the 11-team field at the Chariton Cross Country Invitational on Tuesday.

PCM scored 70 points in fourth. That was one point back of 2A No. 6 Red Oak. Class 2A No. 2 Chariton won the boys’ meet title with 51 points, and 2A No. 8 Pella Christian was second with 56.

The rest of the field included Oskaloosa (133), Davis County (168), Cardinal (225), Clarke (243), Wayne Community (261), Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (273) and Southeast Warren (304).

Kash Fischer led the Mustangs with a sixth-place finish in the boys’ 5K race. He was clocked in 16 minutes, 45.72 seconds. Coby DeRaad (17:15.45), Brenden Lahart (17:18.17) and Owen Osterhaus (17:25.97) also were in the top 15 in 12th, 13th and 15th, respectively.

Chariton won its home meet after placing four scoring runners in the top 10. Class 2A No. 10 Lucas Anderson won the race in 15:52.98.

Pella Christian, which hosts a 2A state qualifying meet later this month, put two runners in the top 10 and four in the first 14 positions.

Class 2A No. 6 Emmanuel Gross of Red Oak finished second in 15:56.8.

The Mustangs’ final scoring runner was Henry Omondi, who placed 25th in 18:16.41. Camden Lahart (18:28.22), Rylan Edgington (18:33.61) and Cademon Burkett (18:42.26) were non-scoring runners in 27th, 30th and 34th, respectively.