GRUNDY CENTER — Caleb Pifkin raced his way to a medal finish at the competitive Sam Iverson Invitational to pace the Gladbrook-Reinbeck boys cross country team on Thursday, Sept. 25, at Town & Country Golf Club in Grundy Center.

Pifkin, a freshman, garnered a medal by finishing eighth in 18 minutes, 40 seconds, while teammate Caleb Bowser, a junior, tracked down 16th place in 19:20.

Senior Brayton Davis paced the GMG Wolverines with a 21st place finish, clocking in at 19:46. His fellow senior Henry Dieleman took 33rd (20:39).

Grundy Center senior Emerson Vokes, ranked No. 1 in 2A, won the individual title in 16:14, well ahead of runner-up No. 3 Will Nesbit from Jesup (17:03).

Jesup took the team title with 42 points followed by the host Spartans (107) and Aplington-Parkersburg (142). Gladbrook-Reinbeck took 13th out of 13 scoring teams with 244 points, while GMG did not field enough runners to place.

Additional G-R finishes included Tavin Ruden 78th, Campbell Gramer 87th, and Braiden Sager 94th.

Additional GMG finishes included Braylon Darter in 68th and Drayson Stephenson in 72nd.

GMG varsity girls

GMG’s pair of freshman varsity girls runners continued to hold their own this season at the competitive Sam Iverson Invite with Grace Mathern racing to 51st in 24 minutes, 28 seconds and Taelyn Sash taking 66th in 26:14.

Jesup junior Jordyn Bergman earned gold in the 80-runner race with a time of 19:30.

A close race at the top saw Sumner-Fredericksburg emerge with first place with 74 points, followed by Jesup (81) and the host Spartans (87). GMG did not field enough runners to place as a team.