-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Joshua Meier of Fort Dodge competes in the boys 5k run during the FDSH Invitational on Thursday at Lakeside Golf Course. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Joe Jackson was excited to see his runners compete on Thursday at the Fort Dodge Invitational.

Jackson and the Dodgers played host to some of the top talent in the state a few weeks ahead of the state cross country meet.

Fort Dodge placed eighth overall in the A race, led by a 25th place showing from senior Joshua Meier.

West Des Moines Dowling had four runners in the Top-10 for scoring purposes to easily place ahead of Waukee. Johnston, Ankeny Centennial and Urbandale rounded out the Top-5.

Humboldt’s Quinton Orr bested Dowling’s duo of Jackson Heidesch and Cade Muller for individual gold.

Rain scrapped the 2018 and ’19 FD Invites, and things were changed around due to the novel coronavirus this season.

“Finally,” FDSH head coach Joe Jackson laughed. “Finally we got to run at our home meet. It’s been a long time coming and the kids were really excited about it.

“We went out and took it all in. I thought they really ran well and I’m happy with their performances.”

On the girls side, the Dodgers were 10th overall as Johnston dominated for top honors. Ankeny Centennial, Waukee, Dowling and Urbandale followed with Johnston’s Aleah Tenpas winning the individual race.

Along with Meier’s finish in 17:22, Ryan Madden was 47th in 18:48 followed by Carter Delanoit in 52nd, Michael Wagner in 54th, Nathan Rethwisch in 70th, Jaren Christy in 72nd and Carter Anderson in 75th.

“We put in a lot of hard work since our last meet with some really tough practices and workouts,” Jackson said. “Now we’ll prepare for conference at Ames on the Iowa State course before the state-qualifying meet after that.”

Fort Dodge’s Isabel Beekman was 51st overall in 23:39, with Alexis Read right behind in 23:59. Maddie Daniel finished 54th, Piera McBride 64th, Dari Cook 65th, Hannah Drummond 66th and Aja Jallow 74th.