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The fall sports season started on the right, or left, foot as the Washington and Northside cross country teams competed in the first official event of the new season.

Northside senior Andrew Harding picked up where he left off last fall by cruising to victory in the boys 5K with a time of 19:25. Harding finished second in the state 1A cross country meet last fall.

WHS junior Manuel Meza was a distant second in 21:53, followed by Panthers sophomore Luke Mirabella (22:05), Pam Pack freshman Miller Tyson (22;14) and Northside freshman Benjamin Hux (22:51).

Northside won the boys race, while the Pam Pack took the girls competition.

WHS junior Lydia Smith finished first in 27:01 followed by teammate Keelyn Plunkett (27:57) and Northside’s Emrie Scott (29:23) and Trinity Modlin (30:31). WHS senior Reagan Fisher was fifth in 31:01.

“This is the earliest we’ve ever had a meet, and our course was a little muddy from all the rain, but it went well overall,” Washington coach Dawn Landen said. “We were missing some kids since school is still two weeks out, but our group competed well. We have seven girls returning and two new ones along with five returning boys and six new ones, including five freshmen. Our goal is to take a boys and girls team to the state meet and today was the first step.”

The teams race again Monday at Northside.