Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge teammates Joshua Meier (left) and Jonathon Madden join St. Edmond’s Ryan Duckett near the finish line during the FDSH Invitational on Thursday at Lakeside Golf Course. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

MARSHALLTOWN — The Fort Dodge boys cross country team came away with a sixth-place showing in their Class 4A district meet on Thursday.

The Dodgers compiled 204 teams points. Cedar Rapids Prairie (33) was the team champion followed by Johnston (45) and Iowa City Liberty (62), who both also advanced.

“We were excited and pleased. I’m very proud of them,” said Fort Dodge head coach Joe Jackson. “We ran terrific. We beat Mason City by six points, a week after losing to them by 20 at conference.

“We had a lot of PRs from everyone.”

Joshua Meier turned in the top showing, finishing 24th in 17:15. Eric Crawford (17:56) and Jonathon Madden (18:16) were 38th and 44th respectively.

Ryan Madden (47th in 18:22) and Carter Delanoit (51st in 18:32) rounded out the Dodgers’ scoring.

Also competing was Nathanial Madden (64th in 19:34) and Gage Riley (69th in 20:30).

“We knew Joshua and an Eric had an outside chance if they ran in the lows 17s,” Jackson said. “They were about 42nd and 45th in the first mile and then about 30th in the second. If you go to fast on that course at the beginning, it can bite you at the end.

“Joshua really kept moving and unfortunately there were a lot of times in the 16s.”

Running for the Dodger girls was Alexis Read (58th in 23:17), Piera McBride (59th in 23:31), Isabel Beekman (64th in 24:43), Olivia Hamlow (66th in 26:02) and Catherine Daniel (68th in 28:21).

“Alexis, Piera and Isabel are all juniors and they led the way with this team,” Jackson said. “With Olivia and Catherine, they all five had their personal best times by 15-to-30 seconds at the best time possible.

“They have all grown all year long and built a strong comradery.”