Prep cross country: Marco Island, Palmetto Ridge finish strong at Celtic Invitational

The Marco Island, Palmetto Ridge, Golden Gate, Barron Collier, Community School, Seacrest and St. John Neumann cross country teams competed in the St. John Neumann Celtic Invitational on Friday.

Marco Island finished fourth of 15 teams in the boys 5k, followed by Community School in sixth, St. John Neumann in seventh, Golden Gate in 12th and Barron Collier in 14th.

Johnathan Watt led the Manta Rays, finishing ninth of 131 runners in 17:29.44. Mitchell Verhelle crossed 34th for the Seahawks (19:14.62). Ben Allen crossed 35th for the Cougars (19:15.59). Timothy Birmingham finished 37th for the Celtics (19:19.08) and David Ortiz finished 44th for the Titans (19:40.53).

Seacrest’s Peter Charles finished fourth (17:10.13). The Stingrays were not scored. Palmetto Ridge’s Christian Garcia crossed 11th (17:32.76). The Bears were also not scored.

Palmetto Ridge finished second of 14 teams in the girls 5k, followed by Community School in fifth, Marco Island in eighth and Barron Collier in ninth.

Olivia Watt finished fifth of 118 for the Manta Rays (20:18.47). Morgan Palmer crossed seventh for the Bears (21:05.23). Bridget Krauss finished 12th for the Seahawks (21:44.62). Andie Gonzalez crossed 37th for the Cougars (23:58.48).

For unscored schools, Margaret Sullivan finished 24th for St. John Neumann (22:47.88). Aliette Amador crossed 40th Golden Gate (24:03.92). Mia Abatecola crossed 48th for Seacrest (24:50.65).

Angel Flores crossed 24th of 56 for the Golden Gate boys in the mixed 5k (21:08.48), while Bianca Carola crossed sixth of 37 for the Palmetto Ridge girls in the mixed (24:44.58).