JEWELL – The hard truth is this – the Gilbert boys’ cross country team is literally and figuratively in a class above South Hamilton, that was abundantly clear at yesterday’s rainy and sunny Jim Klein Invitational at the Jewell Golf and County Club.

And there’s no shame in that.

Gilbert, ranked No. 5 in Class 3A, blew away the field and South Hamilton, No. 4 in 2A, was forced to fend off a slew of other ranked teams – there were six in all in attendance – to claim the runner-up slot.

With four top-10 runners, including silver medalist Calvin Stewart, Gilbert compiled 39 points, 67 fewer than the Hawks (106). Fourth-ranked (1A) Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center (117) was third, followed by East Marshall (119) and 14th-ranked (2A) Ogden (162).

“They’re obviously really good,” South Hamilton sophomore Logan Peters said of the Tigers after he led the South Hamilton contingent with an 11th-place showing in 17:29 on the difficult layout that featured more than a few inclines. “Everybody on our team would have to (set a personal record) to stay with them.”

But don’t expect the Hawks to sit back and give the Heart of Iowa Conference title to Gilbert next week.

“I can say go after them and let’s see what we can do and the guys will do that,” South Hamilton head coach Darrell Paulsen said. “We know they’re a quality team and so are we.”

It was just the second time in eight outings this season that the Hawks exited the course without the team crown. It marked the first time the team failed to place an individual in the top 10. Still, Peters wasn’t complaining even though he’s not the biggest fan of his home course.

“As a team I think we did well,” he said. “There’s pressure here because you’ve got so many fans here supporting you and it’s one of the harder courses that we do run.”

Quinton Grove stuck in the No. 2 slot for the Hawks throughout the race and wound up in 15th in 17:40. Devon Fisher (17:50) made a late surge to pass teammate Josiah Brown and take 22nd place. Brown was 24th, and Gaige Pickering (18:32) rounded out the scoring with a 34th-place effort.

The South Hamilton girls’ team lost its leader Katie Austin to illness during the race and finished at the back of the 13-team pack with 383 points.

Natalie Johnson (68th, 25:20.75), Annie Johnson (69th, 25:21.71), Ella Carlson (72nd, 25:29.26), Emily Willadson (85th, 27:56.38) and Lydia Spicer (89th, 33:26.64) were the Hawks’ scoring runners.