St. Peter boys and girls take fourth at Royal Cadet Invitational

Facing fierce competition from middle schools many times their size, the St. Peter cross-country team held their own at the Royal Cadet Cross Country Invitational Tuesday evening at Marmion Academy in Aurora. Both the girls and the boys varsity teams placed fourth in the two-mile race competing against a field of 18 teams.

The girls started their race looking relaxed and focused passing through the first half mile. Even though they were competing with a mix of fifth- to eighth-graders the girls stayed confident throughout and remained in a position to finish near the top in the crowded field. Front runner and sixth-grader Nora Brady led the way finishing in 23rd place with at time of 13:55.

Nearly a minute behind her, a pack of three St. Peter runners finished within 10 seconds of each other securing enough points for fourth place. Rotolo (Batavia), Yorkville and Wredling (St. Charles) took the top three spots.

The St. Peter girls were a tough act to follow but the boys were up for the challenge. Like the girls the boys remained focused, relaxed and competitive against a large and talented field. Led by perennial front runner and team leader eighth-grader William Huber in 25th place, the boys second through fifth runners all stayed within sight of each other, saving precious points and finishing fourth. Four of St. Peter's top seven boys were fifth-graders running their first two-mile race. Rotolo, Wredling and Yorkville also took top three honors in the boys two-mile race.

The challenges don't end as the St. Peter Rockets head to Shorewood on Saturday to compete against nearly 50 teams and 2,500 middle school cross country athletes at the Troy Invitational. There they will compete against crosstown rivals Geneva Middle School North and South in one of the largest middle school cross-country invitationals in the world.