IOWA FALLS, Ia. — The South Hamilton Hawks and Eagle Grove Eagles cross country teams opened their 2026 seasons on Thursday night, as they made the trip to Hardin County to compete at the Iowa Falls-Alden Invitational at Maynes Grove. The Hawks and Eagles were joined by the host Cadets, as well as Aplington-Parkersburg, Belmond-Klemme, Clear Lake, Dike-New Hartford, East Marshall, Hampton-Dumont-CAL, Humboldt, Newman Catholic and South Hardin.
South Hamilton’s boys would finish 3rd as a team, scoring 96 points as senior Jesus Garcia placed 4th overall with a time of 17:45.7. Senior Hayden Hill would place 9th with a time of 18:47.6, as fellow senior Jackson Olmstead placed 12th in a time of 18:50.5. Senior Jacob Lutjen placed 32nd in 20:43.9, as senior John Sandgren rounded out scoring by placing 39th in 21:12.9.
Eagle Grove’s boys placed 7th in the meet with a total of 174 points, as freshman Stetson Kvale placed 13th in a time of 18:51.7, as senior Hunter Waldo-Martinez placed 17th in a time of 19:30.3. Junior Asarel Castro was 41st in 21:20.4, freshman Taylor Tucker was 51st in 21:46.3 as freshman Alejo Corado rounded out scoring in 21:46.4.
South Hamilton’s girls would place 9th in the meet with a total of 242 points, as junior Jill Bentley was the Hawks top placer, finishing 35th in a time of 25:48.0, as senior Cici Herrick was 41st in 26:11.5. Senior Rosemary Chamness was 54th in 29:30.6, sophomore Lexi Mathes was 55th in 30:52.5, as senior Laurel Johnson rounded out scoring in 57th with a time of 33:19.3.
Eagle Grove’s girls did not place as a team, but did have a top 10 finisher in freshman London Parrott, who placed 10th in a time of 22:13.0. Junior Myka Anderson was 39th in a time of 25:28.5.
South Hamilton and Eagle Grove cross country return to action on Tuesday, when they compete at the Webster City Invitational at Links Golf Course beginning at 5:30 PM.