The Roughneck and Ladyneck Cross Country teams started the 2023 season this weekend at the Union Grove Invitational Meet held at Union Grove High School. In the Varsity boys race, Logan Langewisch started the season with a 20:09 finish for 31st place out of 91 runners. Ally Tatum competed in her first cross country race in the Varsity girls division. Tatum finished the two mile course with a time of 13:52 for fifth place in a race that saw 99 runners compete. In the JV boys race Keenan Jalomo led all runners with a time of 12:24 for the two mile course. Jalomo was followed by Cooper Tucker, 13:02, Luke Bueno, 13:04, in second and third places. Nathan Watson was sixth in a time of 13:50, and Kaleb Glenn rounded out the team scoring for the Roughnecks in seventh place with a time of 13:58. Jackson Standard finished in 11th place out of 36 runners in a time of 14:25. The team placed first with a score of 19. In the JV girls race, Sophie Fisher was second in a time of 15:21, followed by Lizzy Still in third with a time of 15:51, and Kylie Caraway also took home some hardware with a fourth place finish in 15:53. There were 43 runners in the JV girls race. The runners will travel to Lindsey Park in Tyler this weekend to compete in the Tyler Legacy Invitational. This is course is typically fast and fun. It will be one of the largest races they will compete in this season.