IOWA FALLS — The Humboldt cross country program scored three of the four top finishes here Thursday at the North Central Conference Invitational.

Bryce Gidel and the Wildcat girls swept the podium, with the Humboldt boys also claiming top team honors.

Gidel held off Iowa Falls-Alden’s Aubrie Fisher, with the Wildcats doing the same in the team race vs. St. Edmond

Humboldt finished with 44 points, as Elizabeth Hildreth was sixth and Kirstyn Beaman ninth. The Gaels countered with Abby Landwehr and Aubrey Bemrich, who were fourth and fifth overall.

“Aubrey had just an incredible race,” SEHS head coach Mike Szalat said. “And I was surprised this was the first time Abby has been all-conference.

“We haven’t beat Iowa Falls-Alden before either, so maybe we are getting into our range of things. I’m happy for the girls.”

Algona’s Carley Mullins placed seventh and Webster City’s Jacie Crutcher finished 11th overall.

Trey Engen of Algona was the boys champion, holding off Humboldt’s Quinton Orr and Joe Kunert. Orr and Kunert helped Humboldt to a convincing finish atop the team standings ahead of Clear Lake and Webster City.

Jed Tracy led the Gael boys, as he finished seventh overall. Grant Heldorfer was 17th, Parker Oswald 31st and Hayden Mayer 32nd.

“The boys are loaded, so for Jed to finish seventh, that was a big deal,” Szalat said. “Grant also ran a great race and our times were improved from the rest of our varsity runners.”

Eric Wittrock added a sixth for Humboldt, with Algona’s Brandon Steil finishing ninth and John Piaszynski taking 10th for Webster City.

Caleb Krueger and Kaeden Langfitt were 23rd and 24th for Clarion-Goldfield/Dows.

In the middle school races, Anna Kolacia was fourth and Hannah Landwehr fifth for the Gael girls, with Aaron Lursen placing sixth for the boys.

Leah Johnson finished third in the junior varsity race for SEHS, with Jacey Ash getting fourth and Gracie Harvey sixth. Connor Bocken was seventh in the boys JV race.

Teams will run against next Thursday at district races set around the state.

NORTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE XC INVITATIONAL

Boys

Team Standings

1. Humboldt, 34; 2. Clear Lake, 67; 3. Webster City, 82; 4. Algona, 95; 5. St. Edmond, 124; 6. Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR, 138; 7. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 177; 8. Hampton-Dumont, 194.

Individual Top-10

1. Trey Engen, A, 15:56; 2. Quinton Orr, H, 16:00; 3. Joe Kunert, H, 16:15; 4. Eric Faught, CL, 16:51; 5. Justin Wright, CL, 16:58; 6. Eric Wittrock, H, 17:14; 7. Jed Tracy, SE, 17:16; 8. Noah Helmer, H, 17:17; 9. Brandon Steil, A, 17:19; 10. John Piaszynski, WC, 17:25.

Girls

Team Standings

1. Humboldt, 44; 2. St. Edmond, 65; 3. Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR, 75; 4. Clear Lake, 86; 5. Algona, 119; 6. Webster City, 139; 7. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 210; 8. Hampton-Dumont, 224.

Individual Top-10

1. Bryce Gidel, H, 18:26; 2. Aubrie Fisher, IFA, 18:29; 3. Ellie Meyer, IFA, 19:18; 4. Abby Landwehr, SE, 19:51; 5. Aubrey Bemrich, SE, 20:56; 6. Elizabeth Hildreth, H, 21:06; 7. Carley Mullins, A, 21:09; 8. Alena Gabrielson, CL, 21:10; 9. Kirstyn Beaman, H, 21:16; 10. Bailey Larsen, CL, 21:17.