McCalah Mast, left, and Karla Singer race for Grace at the Bethel Invitational on Friday. (Photo provided by the Grace College Sports Information Department)

MISHAWAKA – Grace’s cross country team competed at the Bethel Invitational on Friday.

The race, held at St. Patrick’s Park, was filled with familiar opponents including six other schools from the Crossroads League. Friday evening’s meet was highlighted by warm, humid weather on a wide open course.

The women had their best race of the year with the top-five runners only 46 seconds apart.

Aubrey Breininger, Liz Fox and Suzanne Sickafoose all had personal records, and McCalah Mast and Karla Singer finished with season-best times.

Breininger paced the Lady Lancers in 20:01, and Fox (20:24) and Mast (20:37) were not far behind. Singer’s 20:45 and Mast’s 20:47 rounded out the team’s top five.

The men’s team placed ninth out of 14 teams despite having two of the squad’s best four runners out. 

Sam Hall was strong with a time of 27:18. Ben Rankin (27:52) and Brendan Hamilton (27:57) kept a tight pack behind Hall.

Jonathan Balda was fourth for the Lancers in 28:09, and Drew Jones was next in line at 29:13.

The Lancers’ next race is the Great Lakes Challenge in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Oct. 21.