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PORTAGE — Area runners braved warm temperatures and high humidity to compete in Saturday’s prestigious Portage Cross Country Invitational at Portage West Middle School.

Several participating schools will return in a few weeks for regional competition on the same 5,000-meter (3.1 mile) course.

Edwardsburg turned in the best finish among area boys’ teams in the Division 2 race. The Eddies finished in 15th place with a score of 531 followed by Niles in 44th with 1131 and Dowagiac finished in the 50th place spot with 1580. 

Senior George Scupham placed 37th to lead Edwardsburg with a time of 16:54. Sophomore Ethan Ferguson was the next Eddie to cross the line in 49th place with a time of 17:02.7 followed by Gavin Ayers (135th, 18:07.5), Jaden Gregory (148th, 18:24.2) and Riley Szala (179th, 18:45.4) to round out the scoring. 

Concluding the Eddies’ top seven were Braiden Schub (212th, 19:04.5) and Lucas Frentz (217th, 19:10). 

Niles freshman John Brickley led the Vikings with his 76th place time of 17:30.8. Beau Kirtdoll was the next Viking to finish in 241st at 19:20.3. Also figuring in the scoring for Niles were Liam Pesce (263rd, 19:40.4), Theodore Arseneau (310th, 20:15.9) and Oliver Trout (346th, 20:51). 

Other Vikings that competed were Miguel Rodriguez (360th, 21:14.5) and Adolfo Sanchez-Perez (431st, 25:44.4).

Dowagiac has just enough runners to post a boys’ team score. Leading Ryan Maggert’s Chieftains was Josue Morales-Perez in 333rd with a time of 20:39.1. Also competing for Dowagiac were Angel Brito (347th, 20:51.1), Balois Franco (357th, 21:07.3), Jeremiah Hargreaves (415th, 23:38.4) and Mayson Preston (435th, 28:34.7). 

“Its a fast course with a few hills, but this is the course where a lot of our kids set their personal bests last year. There is alot of talent here that pulls our runners along and helps us out. We didn’t have our best showing today, but it was very hot out. Our goals for the remainder of the season are to set as many personal bests and do well at regionals,” Maggert said.

Buchanan earned ninth in the Division 3 boys’ race with a score of 285.

Junior John Keser paced the Bucks with a fourth-place time of 16:20.3 followed by senior Liam McBeth (27th, 17:10.5), Jack Sherwood (31st, 17:17.8), Jacob Kuntz (112th, 18:46.1) and Bentley Molitor (133rd, 19:10.6). 

Completing the Bucks’ top seven were Charles Spencer (138th, 19:17.7) and Marley Hinds (208th, 20:11.1).

In the girls’ meet, Niles was the lone team to qualify for a score in Division 2 where the Lady Vikings scored 620 points to finish in 23rd place. 

Lena Coulson, a freshman, turned in the top place for Niles with time of 21:19.4 good for 88th place. Other scorers for the Lady Vikings were Claire Devleschoward (129th, 22:14.7), Katie Walsh (207th, 23:45.3), Amari Aldridge (210th, 23:46.5) and Haili Martz (218th, 23:58.9). 

Edwardsburg’s top finishers were sophomore Grace Leman (52nd, 20:23.4) and Giselle Babcock (203rd, 23:36.9). 

Edwardsburg head coach Lito Ramirez was pleased with his runners’ efforts in both the boys’ and girls’ races.

“It was a very difficult day today with the heat. But we had George and Ethan medal for us in the boys’ race. Grace also ran well. Our top runner Georgia Babcock was unable to finish the race due to some breathing issues, but she will bounce back and got a clean bill of health from the great medical staff who attended to her,” Ramirez said.

Sophomore Sadie Bonczynski (147th, 22:40.8) was Dowagiac’s top finisher on the day. Buchanan freshman Tala Carlin finished 13th in the Division 3 girls’ race with a time of 19:59.8. Alison Murray of Niles Brandywine finished in 51st with a time of 21:21.7.