-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Avery Fisher of Humboldt compete in the girls 5k run during the Wildcats Invitational on Monday at Sheldon Park

HUMBOLDT — Tyra Schupbach spoiled a sweep by the Humboldt girls cross country team here Monday, as the West Bend-Mallard senior won the Humboldt Invitational held at Joe Sheldon County Park.

Already one of the tougher high school courses in the state, temperatures in the high 80s made it even more difficult.

None of that, though, seemed to bother Schupbach, as the state cross country veteran raced out and posted a winning time of 20:19.64. Wildcat teammates Avery Fisher and Aubry Fisher were right behind in second and third, helping Humboldt to the team crown.

The Wildcats finished three points ahead of runner-up Boone, as Iowa Falls-Alden, Ridge View, Newell-Fonda, St. Edmond, Algona, West Hancock, Emmetsburg, Manson Northwest Webster, Estherville-LC and Eagle Grove rounded out the standings.

Brynn Malo gave Humboldt three in the Top-5, as the senior finished fifth overall. Avery Fisher clocked a time of 20;33, Aubry Fisher finished in 21:07 and Malo went 21:24.

Newell-Fonda’s Mareni Brabec placed seventh overall in 21:30 and Bishop Garrigan’s Julia Swift was 10th in 21:57.

For the Gaels, Grace Schlegel was the highest finisher, as the freshman finished 16th overall in 23:40. Sophomore Naomi Valles was close behind in 23rd followed by junior Alex Leiting in 39th, sophomore Greenlee Crimmins in 43rd, junior Lily Eslick in 46th, sophomore Betsy Gruver in 50th and freshman Adelyn Bangert in 84th.

“I thought Grace, Naomi and Alex all had really good races,” SEHS head coach Mike Szalat said. “Greenlee had a really good first half of the race, but having never competed here before, the second half kind of got to her. But I liked the way that she got out and competed.

“We ran as a pretty good pack again after Grace and Naomi.”

Emmetsburg’s Rachel Schany, a state track and field champion who owns multiple medals from inside Drake Stadium, was 12th overall while Algona’s Mara Davis finished 14th.

In junior varsity action, Mae Pokorny was 13th for St. Edmond followed by Abby Tofilon in 21st, McKenna Kvale in 22nd, Jennifer Touney in 23rd and Mary Ella Gruver in 26th.

Next action for the Gaels will be Monday when they travel to Algona.