Jackson and Cape Central runners packed the result boards at Saturday's Cape Central Invitational at Cape County Park.

The female squads from Jackson and Cape led the way, with first- and second-place finishes respectively in the five-team varsity division.

Jackson, which had six girls medal, won with 36 points, 10 better than Central, which featured five medalists. Carbondale was third with 84.

Julie Wunderlich led the Lady Indians with a third-place finish in18:11 over the 2.6-mile layout. Amanda Beussink was fifth in 18:34.

They maximized their efforts by running as a pack.

"We worked together really well as a team," Beussink said. "We kind of formed a line. When you start getting tired, running in a pack like we did helps out."

Wunderlich, a junior, nearly collapsed at the line after running the hilly course in near 90-degree heat.

"Coach (Jim Stoverink) said I looked bad at (the two-mile mark), because I turned white," Wunderlich said. "But as he always says, `You will recover. You'll have time to rest.'"

Jennifer Brown finished sixth and Sarah Stiegemeyer eighth for Jackson. Sarah Strack placed 14th to complete the Lady Indians' top five while Sarah Schlick finished 17th to also medal.

Myka Bohnsack led Central to its second-place finish with a second-place individual finish in 18:08. Carbondale's Courtney Reeder finished comfortably ahead in 17:51.

"It's kind of hard on all those hills," said Bohnsack, who was third at Jackson and fifth at the Northwest Invitational this season. "Usually I start out slower, but I tried to get myself in front this race."

"She's still experimenting," Central coach Mark Hahn said. "She can run the hills. You ask any athlete, and they'll tell you this is a tough course. It takes conditioning and a good mental approach."

Central's Kim Pancoast placed fourth and senior Leanne Lee was seventh overall. It was her first top 10 at the event.

"I felt relaxed the whole time," Lee said. "I know if you take out really hard on the hill early in the race it tires you out. I've kind of learned pace, but I probably saved a little too much."

Brittany Ballard (15th) and Rachel Sprigg (18th) also medaled for Cape Central.

Kelly's girls finished fifth, courtesy of a pack of five finishers from 29th to 39th, led by Laura Ruff, who finished in 20:52.

Notre Dame's girls received earned no team points but saw Susan Judd medal with an 11th-place finish in 19:09.

Like some of Central's girls, the Tigers' top finisher and the area's top finisher in the boys' varsity division, sophomore Mark Stone, felt like he had something left at the end as well.

Stone finished fourth in 15:06, less than 20 seconds behind the winner, Northwest's Mike Nelson (14:47).

"I was expecting to be a little more tired," said Stone, a 6-foot-2 sophomore. "I've been working on the hills. They don't bother me like they used to."

David Stahr (10th) and Jeff Haycraft (18th) also medaled for Central, which placed third.

Carbondale won the 10-team boys' division with 56 points, followed by Northwest (58) and Central (77). Kelly was fifth with 124, Jackson seventh with 176 and Notre Dame eighth with 210.

Kelly's boys, like its girls' team finished fifth. Lucas Choate (15:22) and Daniel Mothershead (15:57) medaled for the Hawks with eighth and 20th-place finishes respectively.

"Overall, I haven't been displeased with the way we ran against the larger schools," Kelly coach Bill Davis said. "It will pay off when districts come."

Jackson's top finisher in the varsity boys division was Blake Popp, who finished seventh in 15:20.

In the junior varsity division, Poplar Bluff and Fox won among the boys and girls respectively.

Jon Lowrence won the boys' junior varsity race, pacing Central to second-place in the boys division with 72 points.

Kelly placed third in the JV boys division. Bandit Thorne was third in 16:43. Justin Butler and Richard Reeves crossed the line in 13th and 14th place in 17:17.

Jackson scored no team points.

Amanda Hutteger won the JV girls race in 19:50, leading Central to a third-place finish with 54 points.

Jackson was one point better in second place, paced by Jessica Craft's fourth-place finish.

Kelly's JV girls finished sixth.

CAPE CENTRAL CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL

GIRLS

Varsity

1. Jackson, 36; 2. Cape Central, 46; 3. Carbondale, 84; 4. Farmington, 101; 5. Kelly, 167; (Notre Dame, Poplar Bluff, Northwest, Fox and Hancock had no team score).

Top 5 team finishers

Jackson

3. Julie Wundelich, 18:11

5. Amanda Beussink, 18:34

6. Jennifer Brown, 18:46

8. Sarah Stiegermeyer, 19:00

14. Sarah Strack, 19:30

17. Sarah Schlick, 19:33

Cape Central

2. Myka Bohnsack, 18:08

4. Kim Pancoast, 18:20

7. Leanne Lee, 18:55

15. Brittany Ballard, 19:31

18. Rachel Sprigg, 19:38

Kelly

29. Laura Ruff, 20:52

32. Melissa Garner, 21:20

33. Megan Nelson, 21:40

35. April Cousins, 21:59

38. Beth Glueck, 22:30

BOYS

Varsity

1. Carbondale, 56; 2. Northwest, 58; 3. Cape Central, 77; 4. Farmington, 123; 5. Kelly, 124; 6. Fox, 139; 7. Jackson, 176; 8. Notre Dame, 210; 9. Hancock, 227; 10. Advance, 244; (Poplar Bluff and Richland had no team score).

Top 5 team finishers

Jackson

7. Blake Popp, 15:20

28. Zach Friedrich, 16:27

36. Steve Adams, 16:45

52. Matt Hale, 18:08

53. Jeremiah Keller, 18:10

Cape Central

4. Mark Stone, 15:06

10. David Stahr, 15:30

18. Jeff Haycraft, 15:47

21. Gabe Austin, 15:58

24. Matt Hawkins, 16:17

Kelly

8. Lucas Choate, 15:22

20. Daniel Mothershead, 15:57

31. C.O. Scheffer, 16:31

32. Jamie Essner, 16:32

33. Nathan King, 16:35