Hills and plenty of them.

That is what awaited Owensville Middle School (OMS) cross country runners last Tuesday during the St. James Cross Country Invitational held at St. James Golf Course.

In the middle school boys race, Owensville placed sixth as a team with 140 points behind St. James (20), Pacific (92), Union (100), Licking (114) and St. Clair (124).

Grayson Lairmore earned the lone medal for OMS’ Dutchmen with a 10th-place time of 12:36.1.

Max Altemeyer just missed top 15 and another medal for the orange and black with a 17th-place time of 13:27.3.

Fellow OMS Dutchmen harriers helping them place sixth as a team included Ricky Ringeisen (30th, 14:20.3), Liam Kramme (41st, 14:55.0), Christopher Wehmeyer (48th, 15:23.2), Braden Kemp (49th, 15:28.8), Hunter Anderson (50th, 15:31.5), Dustin Manson (60th, 16:06.5), Garrett Ringeisen (67th, 16:45.9), Dylan Dietrich (75th, 17:58.2) and Logan Hackstedt (83rd, 24:07.7).

OMS’ Dutchgirls placed third as a team with 76 points behind Pacific (26) and Sullivan (45).

Earning medals for the orange and black were Kennedy Reams (12th, 15:00.4) and Jolie Vandegriffe (14th, 15:27.0).

Other Dutchgirl harriers helping OMS place third as a team were Ellie Albright (25th, 16:27.4), Gracie Rosselli (28th, 16:54.6), Ella Niederer (30th, 17:19.8), Addi Meyer (34th, 17:39.8), Allyson Smith (39th, 19:31.3) and Lilly Kahmke (45th, 29:17.6).

Racing last night (Tuesday) in the Hermann Invitational at Loutre Shore Golf Course, OMS’ Dutchmen and Dutchgirls will kick off the Owensville Invitational on Tuesday, Oct. 15 throughout the Gasconade County R-2 campus with racing beginning at 3:30 p.m.