LA GRANDE — The cross-country teams of Imbler and La Grande joined with Pine Eagle to open the season at the Panther Prowler on Friday, Sept. 1, at Owsley Canyon.

The La Grande girls are off to a good start, winning the first meet of the season. La Grande runners claimed the top-four positions and ended the day with 19 points. Imbler, with 36 points, was second.

Sophomore Brooke Perry started the year as she finished last year, leading all runners with a time of 22 minutes, 2.1 seconds. Junior Cecilia Villagomez was just over 1 minute behind, claiming second with a time of 23:30.4. Senior Kiah Carlson and senior Emily Tubbs were third and fourth, respectively.

Imbler junior Paiten Braseth cracked the top five and was the top Panther finisher, hitting the finish line in 25:53.4 for fifth place. Sophomore Eva Paulson finished sixth and sophomore Keira Counsell placed seventh, followed by junior Helen Gordon in eighth.

The La Grande boys also picked up the team title, though by a much slimmer margin. The Tigers finished with 26 points compared to Imbler’s 31 points.

La Grande freshman Josef Simonis beat all other runners to the finish, crossing in 21:39. Imbler junior Adam Gordon picked up second after a time of 22:01.9. Fourth place went to La Grande junior Michael Gisi and Imbler junior Razi Jacobsen finished sixth.

Union/Cove cross-country in Idaho — again

WEISER, Idaho — Just over one week after racing in Parma, Idaho, Union/Cove was back in Idaho, this time taking part in the Weiser Invite on Friday, Sept. 1, at Rolling Hills Golf Cours.

The Bobcat boys finished only behind McCall-Donnelly, Idaho, in the team scores. Union/Cove ended the day with 59 points compared to the Vandals’ total of 47 points.

Bobcat senior Eli Williams recorded the top finish for the team, placing third with a time of 17 minutes, 5.39 seconds. Sophomore Mason Ritter finished 13^th in the crowded field with a time of 19:03.14.

By only two points, the Bobcats won the girls team title, scoring 55 points, while McCall-Donnelly ended with 57 points.

Sophomore Taylor Weishaar ran a strong second in the race, posting a time of 21:20.38. Fellow sophomore Angel Sheilds-Marrs was just outside the top ten finishers, placing 12^th and a time of 22:45.16.