HUMBOLDT — Close to 145 boys and just under 130 girls packed onto the starting line and navigated their way through the trails and trees at Sheldon Park on Monday.

The course was no joke, which meant times weren’t going to necessarily be a good indicator of how runners competed.

“It’s a really tough course,” Webster City head coach Derek Turner said after his boys’ squad placed fifth and his girls’ team took 14th at the Humboldt Invitational. “It was extremely hilly and through the woods with trails throughout, so it was really fun to run. But with that being the case, times were not the best by any means. We looked at the competition and how we were placing.”

Jacob Willson turned in a top-10 race and three others finished among the top 26 to propel the Lynx boys’ team to 153 points. Gilbert (90 points) spoiled Humboldt’s bid to win its home meet, as the 11th-ranked (Class 3A) Wildcats (102) settled for second. But standout Humboldt senior Quinton Orr didn’t disappoint, as he set a new course record with a winning time of 16:22.30.

Clear Lake (128) and St. Edmond (129) also finished in front of WCHS.

Willson led the Lynx from the opening gun and sprinted across the finish line in 18:29.40 to finish seventh among the 145 racers. Matt Perin (18:44.50) also turned in a sub-19 time to finish 14th. Jose Ramirez (19:09.90) settled into 21st and Cole Reiling (19:21.70) was 26th.

“Jacob was strong at the front and our second pack of guys had decent races as well,” Turner said.

Codey Berg (21:19.90) completed the scoring team for WCHS, as he came across in the 85th position.

For the third time in four meets, a different runner took the lead for the WCHS girls’ squad. This time it was Jacie Crutcher’s turn, as she clocked in at 24:00.30 to place 35th among the 127 competitors.

“Jacie had a heck of a run,” Turner said. “It wasn’t her (personal record), but on that course anything close to your PR is good.”

Emma Peck (24:24.00), who led WCHS in its opening two meets, was just under 24 seconds behind her teammate in 43rd place. Kaelyn Butz (24:29.90), who paced the Lynx at the Ballard Invite one week earlier, was only a few steps behind Peck and placed 45th.

Carly Appel (28:31.50, 101st) and Brynna Croy (32:12.70, 120th) rounded out the scoring.

WCHS, which was without usual No. 4 runner Allison Oswald, tallied 314 points. Gilbert (87) claimed the girls’ team title as well, six points in front of runner-up Woodbury Central (93).

Iowa Falls-Alden’s Ellie Meyer claimed the girls’ individual title in 19:39.30.

Humboldt Invitational

Monday at Humboldt

GIRLS RESULTS

Team Standings

1. Gilbert 87; 2. Woodbury Central 93; 3. St. Edmond 125; 4. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 192; 5. Manson-Northwest Webster 197; 6. Humboldt 204; 7. Algona 219; 8. Nevada 225; 9. Emmetsburg 227; 10. Iowa Falls-Alden 255; 11. Pocahontas Area 293; 12. West Bend-Mallard 306; 13. Fort Dodge 312; 14. Webster City 314; 15. West Hancock 357; 16. Boone 394; 17. Clear Lake 396; 18. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 422.

Individual Winner — Ellie Meyer, Iowa Falls-Alden, 19:39.30.

Webster City Results

35. Jacie Crutcher 24:00.30; 43. Emma Peck 24:24.00; 45. Kaelyn Butz 24:29.90; 101. Carly Appel 28:21.50; 120. Brynna Croy 32:12.70

BOYS RESULTS

Team Standings

1. Gilbert 90; 2. Humboldt 102; 3. Clear Lake 128; 4. St. Edmond 129; 5. Webster City 153; 6. Nevada 190; 7. Fort Dodge 272; 8. Algona 274; 9. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura 296; 10. Eagle Grove 310; 11. Hampton-Dumont/CAL 312; 12. Boone 320; 13. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 322; 14. Algona Garrigan 332; 15. Iowa Falls-Alden 340; 16. Manson-Northwest Webster 342; 17. North Union 392; 18. Pocahontas Area 421; 19. Emmetsburg 461; 20. Woodbury Central 505; 21. West Hancock 625.

Individual Winner — Quinton Orr, Humboldt, 16:22.30.

Webster City Results

7. Jacob Willson 18:29.40; 14. Matt Perin 18:55.40; 21. Jose Ramirez 19:09.90; 26. Cole Reiling 19:21.70; 85. Codey Berg 21:19.90; 89. Reece Sadler 21:30.00; 101. Wyatt Bingham 21:54.40.