The Greenon Knights cross country teams opened their season on Saturday, August 28, at the Brookville Grade Level Challenge, a unique event where every high school runner competes in the same five-kilometer(approximately 3.1 miles) race for their respective gender, but individual awards are based on grade level (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior).

The Greenon girls entered the meet as the sixth ranked team in the Division II state coaches poll and did not disappoint, winning the 11-team race with a team score of 28 points.  The Lady Knights were able to outdistance second-place Tippecanoe by placing five runners in the top eight: MacKenzie McMillin, the top junior and third overall finisher in 20:35; Lianne Masquelier, the second freshman and fourth overall runner in 21:00; Megan Ball, the second sophomore and sixth overall harrier in 21:14; Erica Miller, the second junior and seventh overall finisher in 21:18; and Mary Wenzell, the third junior and eighth overall runner in 21:23.

Blocking (not scoring, but adding to the scoring places for other teams) for the Lady Knights were Sara Nolan, the seventh fastest freshman and 48th overall finisher in 24:19, and junior Kelli Barker, who finished 57th overall in 24:44.

Also competing were senior Lacey Price, 65th in 25:05; freshman Mishaela White, 79th in 26:03; senior Marly Hrosch, 84th in 26:26; freshman Kaitlyn Bandel, 99th in 27:31; sophomore Cassie Fenton, 122nd in 31:30; and junior Sarah Acus-Souders, 125th in 38:42.

The Greenon boys placed fifth out of fourteen schools. Leading the way for the Knights was Seth Currier, the seventh junior and thirteenth overall finisher in 17:50. Next was Brandon McNeil, the ninth junior and 20th overall finisher in 18:09, a thirty second improvement of his personal record (PR) from last season. Joshua McReynolds was the next Knight to cross the finish line, setting a new PR of 18:42, good for 33rd place.

Rounding out scoring for the Knights were Taylor Bennington, the seventh freshman and 38th overall finisher in 19:11, and Aric Ross, the 10th sophomore and 45th overall runner in 19:28.
Senior Ryan Vieu, 51st in 19:43, and freshman Jake McGuire, 72nd in 20:49, blocked for the Knights.

Also competing were freshman Jeremy Bennett, 101st in 21:54; freshman Collin Auckerman, 102nd in 21:57; senior Joshua Boyd, 117th in 22:50; senior Jared Grant, 120th in 22:54, tying his PR from last season; freshman Brandon Campbell, 142nd in 25:20; senior Kevin Ivancic, 153rd in 32:40; and junior Paul Schaeffer, 155th in 37:37.
The Greenon cross country teams will next compete on Saturday, September 4, at the Treaty City Invitational at Greenville City Park.