Cass’ cross country team participated in the Mercy Invitational on Aug. 25 in Fairburn for their first meet of the season.

The Colonels did very well, according to head cross country coach David Rawlins.

“The girls team has a great start to the year…The boys’ team had an awesome race,” Rawlins said.

The top five runners for the girls were Savannah Casey, Hannah Hood, Marie Smith and Angelica Victoria. The top five runners for the boys were CJ Edwards, Jordan Morning, Logan Sorenson and Edgar Victoria.

The fastest times for both the boys and girls came from sophomores Savannah Hardin and Jaison Morning. Hardin ended up “finishing in a fine time” of 21:35, placing 27th, while Morning placed 17th with a time of 17:44.

The boys’ team finished sixth among the 25 schools. Rawlins felt good about his boys placing sixth in the meet even though he didn’t feel they gave a complete effort, he said.

“It was a great start to the season and they all did not [even] run to the best they could have. We should contend for the county meet and qualify for the state meet,” Rawlins said.

Except Edwards who didn’t compete in 2011, all of the top five boys’ runners improved their times from last year by 50 seconds or more.

While the girls did not place in the top 19 teams, Rawlins said he has hope his girls can make it to the state meet.

“If we continue to improve on our times, the girls team will qualify for the state meet,” Rawlins said.

Excluding Smith who is only a freshman this year, only two of the top five girls improved their times from last year’s Mercy Invitational, Hardin and Hood. Hardin shaved 1:39 minutes off her time while Hood dropped 2:29 minutes off her time.

Since Rawlins said his team uses this meet as an opportunity to see where it ranks against others as well as a chance to see where improvements are needed, he is confident it will do better in the future.

“We look for a big improvement in the team, boys and girls, over the next three weeks,” Rawlins said.