GMG senior Brayton Davis powers toward the finish line while amongst a large group of runners during the Union Invitational boys varsity run on Sept. 11 in La Porte City. Davis finished 18th out of more than 90 runners. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

LA PORTE CITY – The GMG cross country team traveled to the rolling hills of the La Porte City Golf Club on Thursday, Sept. 11, for the Union Invitational. In a change from past meets, the start was moved from the traditional sixth fairway hill to the seventh hole’s more flat tee area.

Neither GMG’s girls nor boys varsity squads fielded enough runners for a team score.

Wolverine freshman Grace Mathern finished 23rd out of more than 80 competitors with a time of 24 minutes, 41 seconds, while fellow freshman Taelyn Sash placed 54th with a time of 26:55.

The winner of the girls varsity race was 1A No. 9 Abbi Waskow of Dunkerton who finished in 19:34. Aplington-Parkersburg took the meet title with 44 points; Vinton-Shellsburg was second with 77 points; North Tama was third with 88 points.

GMG senior Brayton Davis led his team, finishing 18th out of more than 90 boys runners with a time of 19 minutes, 44 seconds.

GMG runners Grace Mathern (center left) and Taelyn Sash (center right) take off from the starting line during last Thursday’s Union Invitational held at the La Porte City Golf Club. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Additional Wolverine boys varsity finishes included senior Henry Dieleman in 39th, senior Drayson Stephenson in 57th, and junior Braylon Darter in 62nd.

Powerhouse Vinton-Shellsburg took gold in the boys race with 18 points, while Aplington-Parkserburg claimed a distant second with 75 points and Nashua-Plainfield was third with 136 points. The V-S Vikings captured all three of the top places with Class 3A No. 10 senior Alex Torres in first (17:05), senior Jack Blais in second (17:39), and senior Zachary Dickinson in third (17:41).

GMG freshman Grace Mathern runs toward the finish line during the Union Invitational on Sept. 11 in La Porte City. Mathern took 23rd with a time of 24:41. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Wolverine freshman Taelyn Sash staves off a Nashua-Plainfield runner as they approach the finish line during the Union Invitational last Thursday afternoon. Out of 81 scoring girls, Sash finished 54th. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

GMG junior Braylon Darter chases down Nashua-Plainfield’s Benjamin Percy as they both barrel toward the finish line during the Union Invitational held on the grounds of La Porte City Golf Club on Sept. 11. Darter defeated Percy in the race for 62nd place. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER