The Sparta cross country team swept the competition at the 34th annual Wildcat Cross Country Invitational held Thursday at the Trail of Tears State Forest Park.
The Sparta boys nearly finished with a perfect score, as they had the top four runners and five of the top six to put up 19 points. The Bulldogs were followed by Cape Central (96), Marion (96), Carbondale (135), Herrin (143), Murphysboro (162), Goreville (194), Heath, Kentucky (197), West Frankfort (223), Anna-Jonesboro (253), and Massac County (332).
Wade Reeves finished first overall for Sparta with a time of 16:14 followed by teammates Jon Hill in second place at 16:28, Wesley Bradshaw in third place at 16:45, and Trevor Morgan in fourth place at 17:16. Adam White finished sixth overall for Sparta, as the Bulldogs ran away with the team title.
The Lady Bulldogs also won the team competition but it was a little closer as Sparta finished with 37 points followed by Cape Central (53), Carbondale (80), West Frankfort (99), Murphysboro (149) and Harrisburg (199).
Sparta was led by race overall winner Aleigh Eggemeyer, who finished ahead of the rest of the field with a time of 19:51.
Sparta’s Melyssa Bradshaw took third place overall with a time of 21:03.