-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Michael Wagner of Fort Dodge compete in the boys 5k run during Dodgers Invitational on Thursday at Lakeside Golf Course

Joe Jackson walked away from the Fort Dodge Invitational here Thursday feeling excitement.

From a packed crowd to plenty of personal records, Jackson saw just what he wanted out of his Dodger cross country program.

“It was so great to see so many people supporting Fort Dodge, St. Edmond and cross country,” Jackson said. “We had a pretty full park with almost 1,700 kids running. It was a fun night for everyone and a good time.

“There were plenty of former runners out and plenty of parents and supporters cheering the kids on.”

Fort Dodge placed 25th overall in the 29-team boys field as Michael Wagner paced the group. The senior clocked a time of 17:32 to finish 107th with junior Shawn Roberts second on the Dodger unit, placing 150th in 18:17.

Senior Omarion Myers-Zimmermann was 158th overall (18:34) followed by freshman Cael Hansen in 166th (18:53). Sophomore Aiden Recker (175th/19:28), junior Brady Major (178th/19:37) and sophomore Owen Gruver (188th/20:30) rounded out the varsity runners for FDSH.

“Michael went out after it and had a good, quick first mile,” Jackson said. “There were a lot of fast guys out there but it was a great learning experience for next week and the conference meet.

“Omarion and Shawn also went out after it, which was good to see. Everybody was racing hard and trying to go as hard as they could.”

The Dodger girls competed in the junior varsity race, placing 20th. Junior Paige Lewis went 24:57 to place 108th overall followed by junior Madeline Stephan in 113th (25:14) and senior Darylinn Cook in 128th (26:22).

Freshmen Reina Lacina (137th/27:41), Brooklyn Kaloupek (138th/27:44) and Madison Carmody (139th/27:50) were joined by senior Katie Rodamaker (140th/35:21).

“We wanted to give our girls a chance to shoot for some PRs so we put them in the junior varsity race,” Jackson said. “We had a number of them come very close to getting those.”

Jackson also thanked wanted to send a special “thank you” to all the workers for their efforts in putting the meet together.

“It takes a village,” Jackson said. “We are so thankful and blessed to have so many volunteers both for this meet and the state meet.”

Fort Dodge will head to Mason City on next Thursday for the Iowa Alliance Conference meet. Joining the Dodgers will be Ames, Des Moines East, Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moines North, Des Moines Roosevelt, Marshalltown, Ottumwa, Waterloo East and the host Mohawks.