Shyann Rulander

FRANKLIN — Warren senior Shyann Rulander bettered 186 runners on Saturday to win the Rocky Grove Invite Varsity Girls cross country race.

In what Warren coach Kevin Dustin called “the last big meet before the District 10 championships,” Rulander finished the 5K course in 20 minutes and 25 seconds, three seconds ahead of second-place finisher Karis McElhaney of Jamestown, Pa.

“Today we had some impressive performances and some learning experiences,” said Dustin. “We told the kids to get bold with their race strategies. That paid off big-time for Shyann Rulander, who won the girls’ race running away from second and third in the final stretch down the finish chute.

“(Freshman) Morgan Alexander also ran a huge race, finishing fourth overall,” added Dustin. “(In the boys’ race out of 217 finishers), Sam Lindell had a tougher day by his standards, but still secured sixth overall.”

Alexander’s fourth-place finish was in 21:21. Warren finished 12th out of 20 scoring teams. Teammate Kasey Kophazy was 93rd in 26:24, Riley Evan 126th in 28:06, Loralei Johnson 131st in 28:45, and Brady Caudill 168th in 32:22.

Lindell paced the Dragon boys for sixth overall in 17:52. Freshman Cole English was 141st in 22:27, freshman Parker Mowrey 161st on 23:24, and Kevin Roberts 209th in 28:51.

Leyton Salvatore was 38th out of 148 runners in the junior high boys race.