Beaty-Warren’s junior high boys cross country team was second out of 14 teams on Saturday at the Rocket Invitational in Titusville. Team members are, from left, in front, Reilly Morgan, Nathan Harris, Levi Peterson, Leyton Salvatore, and Cole Fitzgerald and, in back, Merrick Tome, Jonah Brinkley, Grayson Callopy, Mason Turner, plus Cassidy Britton, and Morgan Alexander, who were Warren’s varsity medalists in the girls’ high school race. Photo submitted to Times Observer

TITUSVILLE — Beaty-Warren’s junior high boys cross country team finished second out of 14 teams at Saturday’s Rocket Invitational.

“Our junior high boys had themselves a great day,” said Warren coach Kevin Dustin. “Cole Fitzgerald, Leyton Salvatore, and Reilly Morgan went 3-5-7 to set the tone. They were followed up by Mason Warner and Grayson Collopy to edge Fort Lebeouf by two points for second place. They knew going into this meet they had a good chance to do well based purely on their workouts. I’d say they really lived up to those expectations. I know they aren’t happy with second and are ready to work hard to close any gaps in their team. Great bunch of young men to work with.”

Grove City won the boys meet with 75 points, followed by Warren’s 87, Fort LeBoeuf’s 89, and Union City’s 99.

Fitzgerald finished the course in third in 9:02, just ahead of Salvatore’s 9:03. Morgan was seventh in 9:18, Warner 28th in 10:00, and Collopy 63rd in 10:58. Other Dragons competing among 146 individuals were Nathaniel Harris, who was 73rd in 11:13, Levi Peterson, who was 88th in 11:39, Jonah Brinkley, 112th in 12:21, and Merrick Tome, 131st in 13:46.