WARSAW – A total of 79 runners took part Thursday evening in the first Elementary Cross Country Mile.

The race, open to boys and girls in grades 3-6, was put on by the WCHS girls’ and boys’ cross country programs.

The event, which included awards sponsored by the Warsaw Breakfast Optimists’ Club, was held at the new cross country course at WCHS.

Taking top honors on the boys’ side were Jace Alexander for grades 5-6 and Dominie Blair for grades 3-4. Alexander had the top time among all runner at 6:13. Blair won in a time of 6:33.

The do of Megan Metzger and Rylee Burns were the top runners on the girls’ side. Metzger covered the mile in 6:37 as the top runner in grades 5-6 and Burns clocked in at 6:45, tops among grades 3-4.

The top 10 boys’ finishers overall were Alexander, followed by Jacob Bass (6:16), Michael Williams (6:19), Mason Cotterham (6:23), Blair, Tanner Stiver (6:34), Landen Alexander (6:38), Jonathon Burritt (6:52), Nathan Dailey (6:54) and Harrison Phipps (7:04).

Metzger topped the girls’ overall field in 6:37. Burns was second in 6:45, followed in the top 10 by Emily Bugg (7:08), Wini Barnett (7:20), Leah Reinholt (7:28), Brittany Duncan (7:29), Erika Bugg (7:35), Delaney Byron (7:37), Baylee Duncan (7:39) and Audrey Turley (7:46).

The WCHS cross country programs plan to hold another race in the Spring.

The Warsaw boys and girls cross country programs hosted the first Elementary Mile Thursday night at WCHS. Shown above are runner who competed in the event (Photo provided)