Teams Fight their Way through the Pack. (Courtesy/ Andrea Grammel)

Coming off a strong beginning to the season, the Columbus Academy cross country team eyed a victory at the McGowan Invitational on Saturday, September 8. While most other sports’ games and matches were cancelled, the invitational still went on. Academy’s boys took first. The girls placed eighth overall.

The Vikes travelled to Watkins Memorial to take on 18 other teams in the rain and shin-deep mud. Our boys’ squad ran away with a landslide victory despite the course’s crazy conditions. 

Liam McCann led the way with a first place finish, while sophomore standout Luke Nester took fourth. 

Other medalists included Abhi Ramesh’19 and Alex O’Connor’20 who placed 13th and 19th, respectively.

The girls team also ran well during the cloudy afternoon, with junior phenom Annalise Grammel nabbing her third consecutive first place finish. Sophomore Regan Cornelius also snatched a top ten placing, taking eighth and leading the team to an eighth place overall finish.

The team hopes to keep up its exceptional start to the season as they travel to the Bobcat Invitational at Grandview Heights on Saturday, September 15.