Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Jayce Point competes in the FDSH Invitational on Thursday at Lakeside Golf Course. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The Fort Dodge cross country program embraces the opportunity to showcase their sport to the community each and every season.

Thursday’s Fort Dodge Invitational kick-started a run over the next few weeks that will see the best of the best from both high school and junior college gather and compete.

And for FDSH head coach Joe Jackson, that is reason to smile.

“It’s really going to be a great month of cross country in Fort Dodge,” Jackson said. “And what makes it so special is all the support we get from the community. You see the same people volunteering each year that have been doing it for as long as I can remember. They take pride in serving as hosts for these events, and that makes it so special for the kids.”

The Dodger boys placed 26th overall in the loaded field, as Indianola claimed top honors. Dallas Center-Grimes was second, followed closely by Johnston, Ankeny Centennial, Norwalk and Waukee Northwest.

Jayce Point led the way for Fort Dodge, as the junior took 157th overall out of 241 runners in 18:17. Freshman Jones Hensley was next in line, placing 164th in 18:32.

Corban McHone was 180th, Joos Langkjaer 189th, Aiden Recker 193rd, Jaxson Lowrey-Jones 221st, Drew Essman 227th, Myles Summers 232nd and Owen Gruver 239th for FDSH.

On the girls side, Dodger sophomore Linnie Pratt was the top performer, placing 164th out of 218 athletes in 22:34. Pratt was followed by Saiya Noborikawa, who placed 181st.

“I saw PRs and season-best times from a number of kids,” Jackson said. “It was a beautiful night to race. The temperatures were great, and it was a bit windy over the final 800, but just a tremendous night to compete.

“Our kids ran hard, and everything went smoothly.”

Kuma Gutema of Sioux City North was the overall boys champ in 15:16.8. Johnston’s Jack Crossland (15:23.7) was next in line, followed by Dowling’s Nicholas Paulsen (15:37.2).

In the girls standings, Waukee Northwest topped Ankeny Centennial and Dallas Center-Grimes at the top. The girls’ gold medalist was Piper Messerly of DC-G (18:11.1), with Laney Sundet of Waukee NW claiming runner-up honors in 18:19.3.

Kennedy Park and Lakeside Golf Course will be busy through the month, as the annual state cross country championships are set for Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

From there, Iowa Central will host the Region 11 Championships on Friday, Oct. 24. Two weeks later, the NJCAA Cross Country Championships will take over the course followed by the NJCAA Half-Marathon Championships on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

“It is just an exciting and great time for the sport to shine in our wonderful community,” Jackson said. “The sport of cross country has really been embraced by Fort Dodge, and it’s a great thing to see.”

In the junior varsity race, Austin Carmody was the top finisher for the Dodger boys, posting a time of 24:22. Isaiah Grim, Elias Powers, Jonathan Casciato, Brek Pingel and Braden Kammerer all ran alongside him.

Aileah Geopfert was the top junior varsity finisher for the girls, placing 220th overall in 25:23. Madison Carmody, Reina Lacina and Laila Grantham joined her.

Fort Dodge returns to action on Wednesday when they travel to Ottumwa for the IAC Invitational.