VENTURA — Quinton Grove earned himself a spot on the first page of the leaderboard and the South Hamilton boys’ cross country team sat in the bronze medal position at yesterday’s Clear Lake Invite.

Running at the Iowa Regular Baptist Camp, the Hawks received strong runs from Grove, Ty Skartvedt and Aaron Hegland en route to 113 points, which trailed only 11th-ranked (Class 3A) Humboldt (60 points) and West Fork (66).

Grove, an all-state performer in 2018, moved closer to the postseason form he desires by completing the 5-kilometer course in 17:35.3, which was also good enough for third behind Humboldt’s Quinton Orr (16:37.9) and Eagle Grove’s Jon Koester (17:24.7). Orr is the No. 1-ranked individual in 3A.

Skartvedt, a member of two South Hamilton state-meet teams, vaulted up to the No. 2 spot on the team with an 11th-place finish in 18:27.7. Hegland also broke 19 minutes; he was 18th in 18:55.0.

Clay Willadsen (19:59.9) and Landon Grove (20:03.3) placed 39th and 42nd, respectively, to finish off the Hawks’ scoring five.

The South Hamilton girls received a top-10 finish from Abby Ervin and took sixth in the field of 13 teams with 162 points. Ninth-ranked (1A) Mason City Newman captured the team crown with 59 points, eight better than runner-up Humboldt (67).

Humboldt senior Bryce Gidel secured the girls’ gold medal in 20:02.6.

Ervin slid in just under 23 minutes; her clocking of 22:59.4 earned her the ninth spot in the large field.

Paige Doolittle (24:15.7) was 25th for the Hawks, while Anna Lammers (24:25.8) also finished in the top 30 at 29th. Chandler George (26:37.4, 46th) and Natalie Johnson (27:41.9, 59th) were also scoring contributors.

Clear Lake Invite

Thursday at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp

Ventura

Boys Team Standings

1. Humboldt 60; 2. West Fork 66; 3. South Hamilton 113; 4. Clear Lake 139; 5. Eagle Grove 145; 6. Mason City Newman 148; 7. Central Springs 156; 8. Forest City 164; 9. North Butler 214; 10. GHV 217; 11. Osage 259; 12. Hampton-Dumont 328; 13. Belmond-Klemme 342; 14. West Hancock 447.

Boys Individual Leaders

1. Quinton Orr (HUM) 16:37.9; 2. Jon Koester (EG) 17:24.7; 3. Quinton Grove (SH) 17:35.3.

South Hamilton Boys Results

3. Quinton Grove 17:35.3; 11. Ty Skartvedt 18:27.7; 18. Aaron Hegland 18:55.0; 39. Clay Willadsen 19:59.9; 42. Landon Grove 20:03.3; 55. Eli Potter 20:30.0; 63. Logan Austin 21:08.9.

Girls Team Standings

1. Mason City Newman 59; 2. Humboldt 67; 3. Osage 92; 4. West Fork 128; 5. Forest City 139; 6. South Hamilton 162; 7. Central Springs 218; 8. Clear Lake 221; 9. GHV 226; 10. West Hancock 235; 11. Belmond-Klemme 281; 12. Hampton-Dumont 297; 13. North Butler 319.

Girls Individual Leaders

1. Bryce Gidel (HUM) 20:02.6; 2. Abby Christians (GHV) 20:37.6; 3. Katelyn Johnston (OSA) 22:03.5.

South Hamilton Girls Results

9. Abby Ervin 22:59.4; 25. Paige Doolittle 24:15.7; 29. Anna Lammers 24:25.8; 46. Chandler George 26:37.4; 59. Natalie Johnson 27:41.9; 73. Marissa Jensen 29:17.0.