Powered by two top-20 individual finishes, the Bulldog boys took fifth out of 14 teams with 143 points. Meanwhile, the girls finished eighth out of 12 teams with a score of 217.

Senior Ryan Bristol, a 2013 state qualifier, led McLouth with a 13th-place time of 19 minutes, 40.9 seconds. Junior Tristan Funk finished just three spots behind Bristol with a time of 19:55.95. Kansas City East Christian Academy won the boys team title with 45 points.

Ceara Funk led MHS on the girls side, coming in 31st with a time of 20:30.23. Christ Preparatory Academy won the girls title with 42 points.

The meet was the Bulldogs’ first under new coach Nate Smith, who coached previously at Atchison County Community High School in Effingham. Smith took a year off from coaching before taking the reins at McLouth, which is a co-operative program with Oskaloosa until the postseason.

“I know we’re putting McLouth and Oskie together, but for a couple schools of this size, there are still really good numbers,” Smith said. “We’ve got some really competitive runners who I think will have an opportunity to maybe go to the postseason, and they’re excited.”

The Bulldogs will return to competition at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Holton Invitational. Their annual home meet will take place Sept. 18.

Girls team results

1. Christ Prep, 42; 2. Hiawatha, 49; 3. KC East Christian, 94; 4. ACCHS, 116; 5. Jeff West, 175; 6. Sabetha, 179; 7. Royal Valley, 197; 8. McLouth, 217; 9. Holton, 234; 10. Northern Heights, 235; 11. Perry-Lecompton, 251; 12. Onaga, 289.

Boys team results

1. KC East Christian, 45; 2. Hiawatha, 79; 3. Sabetha, 101; 4. Christ Prep, 103; 5. McLouth, 143; 6. Royal Valley, 165; 7. Onaga, 200; 8. Wetmore, 216; 9. Holton, 242; 10. Perry-Lecompton, 262; 11. Valley Falls, 279; 12. Jeff West, 301; 13. Northern Heights, 319; 14. Midland Adventist, 329.

MHS girls results

Ceara Funk, 20:30.23; Hannah Sparks, 20:42.3; Savanna Noble, 21:53.18; Ashley Nelson, 22:04.64; Mable Mestagh, 24:15.31; Jordyn Johnston, 24:20.58; Monica McAferty, 24:31.89; Anna Moore, 25:12.1; Emily Hoffhines, 26:10.66; Meghan Jackson, 26:45.65; Emma Evans, 26:55.25.

MHS boys results

Ryan Bristol, 19:40.9; Tristan Funk, 19:55.95; Braden Pfau, 20:57.27; Nick Courtney, 21:07.8; Shane Adams, 21:11.11; Jordan Butler, 21:50.92; Zach Whaley, 22:03.32; Remington Courter, 22:03.57; Hunter Terrel, 22:37.55; Marek Koch, 22:40.39; Toby Berends, 24:23.71; Paul Kuglin, 25:13.33; Michael Frederick, 31:36.44; Rafael Porto, 31:59.58; Cody Van Houtan, 32:00.64.