By Cort Reynolds
DELPHOS - The Bluffton boys cross country team finished fifth of nine teams at the Delphos Blue Jay Invitational Saturday at Stadium Park.
Columbus Grove won the boys team title with 48 points, finishing just ahead of Anna (51). Bluffton was fifth with 118 points.
Pirate sophomore Erik Nygaard finished ninth in the 88-runner field with a time of 18:08.9 to pace Bluffton.
Senior Brandon Good was second for Bluffton and 20th overall in 19:13.03. Classmate Elijah Conley ended up 25th in 19:23.29.
Sophomore Sam Derstine came in 29th in a time of 19:33.33. Junior Trey Boblitt finished 40th in 20:42.82 to round out the Pirate scorers.
Sophomores Wyatt Lovell (47th, 21:05.3) and Jonah Rohm (48th, 21:08.14) ran sixth and seventh for Bluffton.
Other Pirate finishers were soph Isaiah Conley (53rd, 21:30.64), senior Carter Dyar (74th, 23:25.83), freshman Liam Jordan (78th, 24:52.71), junior Carter Dailey (79th, 24:54.65) and junior Caleb McKenzie (80th, 24:54.91).
The Pirate average time was 19:24.28.
Hayden Schmidt of Anna won the race in a time of 16:15.37, by a full minute over the second-place finisher.
Two Lady Pirate runners competed in the girls race, which was won by Anna.
Freshman Amairi Painter came in 75th in 27:03.21. Junior teammate Caitlin Dailey finished right behind her at 76th in 27:03.84.
Taylor Spencer of Waynesfield-Goshen won the girls individual race in a time of 18:59.52.
Blue Jay Boys Invite results:
1 Columbus Grove 48 points
2 Anna 51
3 Van Wert 73
4 Liberty Center 113
5 Bluffton 118 Average: 19:24.28
6 Van Buren 151
7 Bath 213
8 Allen East 220
9 Swanton 222
The Pirates run next at the Columbus Grove Invitational Saturday, September 5.
