ST. JOSEPH – Madie Rodts of Niles won her second consecutive Berrien County Cross Country Invitational title on Saturday.

Rodts was clearly the class of the field as she finished nearly a full minute in front of runner-up Rachel Bendewald of St. Joseph.

Rodts ran a 19:58 in the cold, wet and windy conditions at Riverview Park in St. Joseph. Bendewald posted a time of 20:28.

Lakeshore won the team title as it edged arch rival St. Joseph 62-64. Niles finished fourth with 78 points. Buchanan was fifth with 87 points.

The Lady Vikings placed two more runners in the top 10 as Bridgett Carpenter was seventh (21:10) and Anne Tyler ninth (21:34).

Torrie Edger was Buchanan’s top finisher as she took fourth with a time of 20:39. Elizabeth Hein finished 11^th for the Lady Bucks with a time of 21:43.

Niles placed two runners in the top four in the boys’ race to finish third overall behind champion St. Joseph (31 points) and Bridgman (50).

The Vikings finished with 109 points. Buchanan was seventh. Brandywine did not have enough runners to post a team score in either race.

Mark Calhoun finished second to St. Joseph’s Sam Felton, while Sam VandenHeede was fourth for the Vikings.

Felton’s winning time was 16:19, while Calhoun ran a 16:31 and VandenHeede a 16:55.

Niles’ Anthony Horvath placed 11^th overall with a time of 17:48. Buchanan’s Rick Reith was 13^th with a clocking of 18:00.

Berrien County Invitational
At Riverview Park
Girls’ results
Team Scores

Lakeshore 62, St. Joseph 64, Berrien Springs 70, Niles 78, Buchanan 87, Coloma 187, Lake Michigan Catholic 187, Watervliet 239, Bridgman 246, New Buffalo 259

Top 15

1. Madie Rodts (Niles) 19:58; 2. Rachel Bendewald (St. Joseph) 20:28; 3. Sydney Shewmaker (Lakeshore) 20:36; 4. Torrie Eger (Buchanan) 20:39; 5. Jessica Nave (Berrien Springs) 21:00; 6. Mandy Piedt (Berrien Springs) 21:08; 7. Bridgett Carpenter (Niles) 21:10; 8. Rachel Lamanna (Lakeshore) 21:18; 9. Anne Tyler (Niles) 21:34; 10. Melanie Armstrong (Lakeshore) 21:36; 11. Elizabeth Hein (Buchanan) 21:43; 12. Kelsey Lewis (Berrien Springs) 21:48; 13. Kelsey Craig (St. Joseph) 21:51; 14. Allyson Garstecki (St. Joseph) 21:56; 15. Elise Campbell (New Buffalo) 22:03

Boys’ results
Team Scores

St. Joseph 31, Bridgman 50, Niles 109, Eau Claire 114, Lake Michigan Catholic 144, Lakeshore 149, Buchanan 164, Watervliet 199, Berrien Springs 236, Benton Harbor 282

Top 15

1. Sam Felton (St. Joseph) 16:19; 2. Mark Calhoun (Niles) 16:31; 3. Collin Ludwig (St. Joseph) 16:51; 4. Sam VandenHeede (Niles) 16:55; 5. Cameron Magro (Bridgman) 17:00; 6. Mark Haukereid (Bridgman) 17:03; 7. Conner Magro (Bridgman) 17:07; 8. Chris Pfahler (St. Joseph) 17:22; 9. David Burkard (St. Joseph) 17:34; 10. Joseph Beemer (St. Joseph) 17:41; 11. Anthony Horvath (Niles) 17:48; 12. Justin Kiewel (Bridgman) 17:50; 13. Paul Perrin (St. Joseph) 17:59; 14. Rick Reith (Buchanan) 18:00; 15. James Jackson (Eau Claire) 18:04