ROCK FALLS – Amboy runners kicked off the high school cross country season by competing in the Rock Falls Invitational on Aug. 24.

In the boys’ race, the Clippers finished second in the team standings with 59 points. Rockford Christian took the top spot with 31 points. Other competing schools were Sterling Newman (76), Rock Falls (99), Erie-Prophetstown (115), Orion (198), Kewanee (203), Eastland (236), Genoa-Kingston (238) and Oregon (264).

Three Amboy runners finished in the top eight. Ian Eller crossed the finish line in third place with a time of 17:24 and Brock Loftus was right behind in fourth at 17:32, while Kyler McNinch occupied the eighth position with a clocking of 18:05.

Other competitors for Amboy were Charlie Dickinson (22^nd, 19:13), Andruw Jones (28^th, 19:55), Wyatt Lundquist (32^nd, 20:27) and Ryan Dickinson (43^rd, 21:11).

Weston Forward of Rockford Christian was the overall individual champion with a time of 17:18.

In the girls’ race, six runners took to the course for the Lady Clippers, who finished sixth in the team standings with 136 points. Rockford Christian grabbed first-place honors with 60 points, followed by Rock Falls (67), Erie-Prophetstown (82), Ridgewood (91) and Oregon (134). Placing behind Amboy were Newman (162), Genoa-Kingston (172) and Eastland (193).

Lauren Althaus was the first Lady Clipper to cross the finish line and was 10^th overall with a time of 22:21. Elly Jones was next in 18^th place in 24:29, while Bailey Ellis placed 30^th in 26:29. Addison Pertell (51^st, 28:48) and Natalie Pratt (60^th, 31:18) also raced for Amboy.

Miranda Reed of Ridgewood was the first runner through the chute in a time of 20:38.