Ipswich hosted its annual high school cross country invite Saturday at the Split Rock Country Club, but on a newly designed course layout.

That proved to be Heidi Olson's recipe for success in the varsity girls' individual outcome. The Mobridge-Pollock runner toured the course in 19:14.57. But Ipswich finished second only to Aberdeen Christian in the girls' team standings (8 to 16) with five teams eligible for team-point honors.

The IHS girls were led by Ashlinn Hartwell, fourth among 26 entrants in 20:55.94. Next was Emily DeRaad seventh in 21:17.45, followed by Sommer DeRaad 11th in 21:56.43. The Ipswich contingent also obtained girls' experience in the JV run with five IHS girls placing in the top six, led by Madisyn Gellhaus in second only to Miller's Madeline Nye (17:11.25 to 17:37.08). Sienna Kessler was third in 17:48.61, followed by Gabrielle Wald fourth in 18:03.21, Reaghan Bowers fifth in 18:10.19 and Gracyn Kadlec next in 18:24.40.

Midde-School girls were led by Aberdeen Roncalli's Claire Crawford in 12:59.33. Ipswich's Anna Nierman was eighth in 13:46.63 followed closely by Ava Davis in ninth in 13:53.51 and Katelyn Tufte in 14:06.84 placing 10th. Natalie Crissman was 15th in 14:58.28 and Kearstin Pietz 20th in 16:09.17 and Bella Unser 25th in 17:31.45.

Meanwhile the Ipswich boys' varsity run was only entered into that day by Taylor Thorson who placed seventh among 40 boys in 18:12.70. It was won by Miller's Pierce Baumberger in 17:14.40 over the runner-up runner Hunter Niederbaumer of Faulkton in 17:19.68. The team title was also captured by Miller with 12 team points, compared to Mobridge-Pollock's 23. There were seven eligible boys teams.

Ashlinn Hartwell and Emily DeRaad in Cross Country action during a rainy Tiger Invitational.

Here again there were some junior varsity runners gaining experience for Ipswich on the boys' side of the ledger. In fact, they went one-two-three led by Turner Thorson in 15:27.73, Xavier Kadlec second in 15:31.50 and Dylan Wald third in 15:57.62. Altogether there were 17 JV boys in the hunt. Ipswich additionally entered two boys into their middle-school event, won by Miller's Tyson Kindle in 11:31.50. Tyler Gellhaus placed 13th for the young Tigers in 13:06.56 and Jon Kintz was 21st among 36 competitors in 14:03.98.

Next on the schedule will be a Potter County Invite on the 19th in Gettysburg.