HUMBOLDT — The results might not indicate an uptick, but Webster City cross country coach Derek Turner exited the course at Tuesday’s Wildcat Invite more encouraged than he had been over the past couple of weeks.

Despite missing some key varsity pieces, WCHS was able to make a good showing on the rugged terrain.

“It was a much better all-around performance on both sides (than at last week’s Ballard Invite),” Turner said.

As they’ve been all season, Emma Peck and Jose Ramirez continued to be the leaders for their respective WCHS squads, and Ramirez was able to navigate his way into the top six against a large field of more than 100 runners.

The Lynx boys’ team was 10th overall with 248 points, while the girls’ crew settled into 11th with 247.

Ramirez, who continues to creep closer to breaking the 18-minute barrier, finished only three seconds out of the bronze medal position, as he was sixth in 18:23. Teammate Cole Reiling fell one place short of his own top-10 finish, as he settled for 11th in 18:55.

Sam Moberly took a step forward for WCHS by fitting into the team’s No. 3 role. His time of 21:07 was good enough for 62nd place. Owen Patterson (22:25) and Gabe Rollins (23:33) finished within an eight-second gap to place 85th and 88th, respectively.

Peck surged to the front of the WCHS girls’ pack from the start and was again well out in front of her teammates. The junior crossed the finish line in 22:57 to finish 16th overall.

Jacie Crutcher (25:04) was back in the 44th position, and it was another sizable gap back to the Lynx final three scorers — Karina Murray (26:59) in 70th, Allison Oswald (27:07) in 72nd and Brynna Croy (27:30) in 75th.

No. 15-ranked (Class 2A) Clear Lake dominated the boys’ field with 39 points — the only one of the 16 full teams with a double-digit total. No. 7-ranked (1A) St. Edmond was second with 118, followed by Humboldt (140), Algona (170) and Pocahontas Area (174).

Fourth-ranked (1A) St. Edmond was the girls’ team champion with 62 points. No. 19 (2A) Clear Lake (74) was the runner-up, followed by 18th-ranked (1A) Manson-Northwest Webster (119), Humboldt (130) and Algona (139).

Wildcat Invite

Tuesday at Humboldt

GIRLS

Team Standings

1. St. Edmond 62; 2. Clear Lake 74; 3. Manson-Northwest Webster 119; 4. Humboldt 130; 5. Algona 139; 6. Iowa Falls-Alden 143; 7. Pocahontas Area 143; 8. West Hancock-Ventura 212; 9. Boone 233; 10. Emmetsburg 246; 11. Webster City 247; 12. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 352.

Webster City Results

16. Emma Peck 22:57; 44. Jacie Crutcher 25:04; 70. Karina Murray 26:59; 72. Allison Oswald 27:07; 75. Brynna Croy 27:30; 85. Adalie Peterson 28:26; 91. Natalie Eggers 30:13.

BOYS

Team Standings

1. Clear Lake 39; 2. St. Edmond 118; 3. Humboldt 140; 4. Algona 170; 5. Pocahontas Area 174; 6. Boone 184; 7. Manson-Northwest Webster 203; 8. Algona Garrigan 235; 9. Iowa Falls-Alden 237; 10. Webster City 248; 11. Eagle Grove 261; 12. North Union 276; 13. Fort Dodge 307; 14. Emmetsburg 349; 15. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 351; 16. GTRA 376.

Webster City Standings

6. Jose Ramirez 18:23; 11. Cole Reiling 18:55; 62. Sam Moberly 21:07; 85. Owen Patterson 22:25; 88. Gabe Rollins 22:33; 101. Aiden Rollins 25:07.