By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Niles boys' cross country team dominated the Berrien County Meet Saturday in St. Joseph as the Vikings captured first place, with a total team score of 55.
Steve Scally finished second, with a time of 17:32 behind St. Joe's Sam Donoho, who finished first overall with a time of 16:59.
Andrew Karsten finished seventh for the Vikes, with a time of 17:58; Dan Geiger took eighth with a time of 18:10; Nate Allison finished 15th with a time of 18:43; Nick Schuck finished 23rd with a time of 18:59, Andy Wuthnow took 42nd with a time of 20:04 and Derek Purcell finished 50th with a time of 20:30.
St. Joe took second place with a score of 58 and Lakeshore took third with a score of 69.
Brandywine took sixth place finish, with a score of 180 and Buchanan finished 10th with a score of 251.
Brian Wieger took ninth for the Bobcats with a time of 18:12 and Nick Wheetly was the top finisher for the Bucks, taking 28th with a time of 19:15.
In the girl's meet, Lakeshore claimed the No. 1 spot with a total team score of 37 and St. Joe took second with a score of 54.
Niles finished fifth with a score of 115 and Buchanan took seventh with a score of 150.
Samantha Brawley took fourth place for the Vikes with a time of 20:30 and Elizabeth VandenHeede took ninth with her time of 21:28.
Brandywine's Ashley Harrell finished 16th with a time of 22:00. The Bobcats did not post a team score.
The Vikings will return to action on Wednesday when it travels to the SMAC jamboree set to begin at 5 p.m.
The Bobcats will travel to Coloma today at 4:30 p.m., while Buchanan will host Bridgman and River Valley at 4 p.m.
Team results
1. Niles, 55
2. St. Joseph, 58
3. Lakeshore, 69
4. Lake Michigan Catholic, 128
5. Berrien Springs, 151
6. Brandywine, 180
7. Watervliet, 197
8. Bridgman, 239
9. New Buffalo, 240
10. Buchanan, 251
11. Eau Claire, 252
12. Coloma, 260
13. Benton Harbor, 330
Top 15
1. Sam Donoho, 16:59 (St. Joe)
2. Steve Scally, 17:32 (Niles)
3. Kyle Banish, 17:39 (Berrien Springs)
4. Derek Prusa, 17:46 (Lakeshore)
5. Brian Farrell, 17:47 (Lakeshore)
6. Jase Burnett, 17:57 (Watervliet)
7. Andrew Karsten, 17:58 (Niles)
8. Dan Geiger, 18:10 (Niles)
9. Brian Wieger, 18:12 (Brandywine)
10. Joel Haynes, 18:24 (Lakeshore)
11. Jesse Jones, 18:24 (St. Joseph)
12. Evan Krettek, 18:28 (Bridgman)
13. John Mahler, 18:31 (St. Joseph)
14. Daniel O'Hearn, 18:36 (St. Joseph)
15. Nate Allison, 18:43 (Niles)
Team results
Girls
1. Lakeshore, 37
2. St. Joseph, 54
3. Lake Michigan Cathlolic, 93
4. Berrien Springs, 107
5. Niles, 115
6. River Valley, 10
7. Buchanan, 150
8. Coloma, 237
Top 10
Girls
1. Amanda Balk, 19:54 (Lakeshore)
2. Becky Schmidt, 20:23 (St. Joseph)
3. Sarah Zebell, 20:27 (St. Joseph)
4. Samantha Brawley, 20:30 (Niles)
5. Mandy Thiele, 21:09 (Lakeshore)
6. Becky Miller, 21:16 (Berrien Springs)
7. Devon Seaman, 21:17 (LMC)
8. Allie Muchmore, 21:17 (Lakeshore)
9. Elizabeth VandenHeede, 21:18 (Niles)
10. Julie Helm, 21:32 (St. Joseph)
11. Allison Reitz, 21:39 (Lakeshore)
12. Kelsey Kuehl, 21:41 (Lakeshore)
13. Jessica Forker, 21:45 (Bridgman)
14. Elizabeth Slabaugh, 21:48 (Lakeshore)
15. Katlin Knaak, 21:50 (St. Joseph)