Coach Yvette Greene’s Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Lady Cats cross-country teams weathered muddy conditions Saturday to turn in strong efforts at the Lee County High School Trojans and Lady Trojans Invitational Meet in Leesburg.

The Bearcats finished fourth in a strong 20 team, 259-runner field and the Lady Cats finished eighth in a strong 16-team field.

Leading the way for the Bearcats were Poncherella Leonard, who won an individual medal for finishing sixth with a time of 18:54 and Caleb Harris, who was right behind him in seventh with a medal winning time of time of 19:00.

The Lady Cats finished a strong eighth in a strong 16-team field. The top five Lady Cats runners were Uriyah Davis, Camry Fillingame, Aileen Mejia, Aida Diaz and Alaiya Schuyler.

Coach Greene said she could not be prouder of both of her teams. “There was water on the course and it was very challenging,” she said. “Poncherella Leonard and Caleb Harris both turned in strong performances despite the weather conditions and I could not be prouder of them.”

“I am also very proud of our girls for turning in strong efforts despite the conditions.”

This Saturday the Bearcats and Lady Cats will travel to Quail Trail Plantation in Thomasville to compete in the Thomasville High School Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs Quail Trail Run.

“Our runners are looking forward to competing in Thomasville,” coach Greene said. “The Quail Trail Run course is always very challenging.”