By Cort Reynolds

BELLEFONTAINE - The Ada cross country teams opened their 2017 season at the Ben Logan Early Bird Invitational meet Tuesday evening.

The Bulldog boys finished seventh out of nine teams, while the Ada girls came in eighth. Jonathan Alder won the boys meet.

Sophomore Reece Evans posted the best Ada finish with a time of 20:33.9 over the 3.1-mile course. Teammate Hunter Wells ended up with a time of 21:04.3.

"We had a great start to the season," said second-year Ada head coach Josh Klein. "The boys averaged a time of 23:34 to finish right behind Hardin Northern. This is just slightly faster than the last year's first meet.  

"I am extremely impressed with all of my boys and the effort they are putting forth," he continued. "It is not easy to have a team with (almost) all new members, but they have stepped up to the challenge and are already proving to be strong runners."

Sophomore ace Abbie James paced the Lady Bulldogs over the 5,000-meter course in 23:45.1.

"As for the girls they averaged a time of 28:57, about two minutes behind last year's start," Klein noted. "This earned them an eighth-place finish.  

"The girls are continuing to work hard, but we have got a lot of work with both teams to get everyone in shape, since we have only had a few weeks of practice to get ourselves ready.

"Unfortunately we are fighting some injuries and general soreness including Abbie James, who is currently out until further notice," Klein said, "as well as Brice Ferguson, who is still recovering from an injury during last year's basketball season.

"We look forward to our meet at Columbus Grove, and are hoping for better results as we progress through the season."

Ada runs in the Columbus Grove Invitational Saturday, September 2 at 9 a.m.

Ada times at BL

Reece Evans 20:33.9

Hunter Wells 21:04.3

Michael Crouse 22:38.0

Ian Dellifield 28:55.1

Jacob Morgan 24:36.6

Abbie James 23:45.1

Courtney McLaughlin 28:08.4

Alexis Ennis 28:37.7

Paige Cole 31:35.1

Nora Dellifield 32:38.5

Dani Waugh 35:00.5