The Southwood Knights Cross Country teams kicked off their season at the Northfield Invitational with strong performances, highlighted by a team victory for the Lady Knights. The girls squad came out on top against Wabash, Heritage–Fort Wayne, Northfield, and Bishop Luers, showing depth and balance throughout the lineup. Leading the way was Paige Nelson (23:50.24), who finished 2nd overall, setting the pace for her teammates. Close behind, Hailey Collins (23:54.14) claimed 3rd place, and Andrea Widemon (24:22.14) crossed the line in 4th, giving Southwood a powerful trio at the front of the race. Elin Tyson (25:24.88) added crucial points with a 9th-place finish, while Olivia Ranck rounded out the scoring with a solid 16th-place performance. The strong pack effort secured the Knights the overall team win to start the season. The boys team also competed and gained valuable early-season experience as they look to build momentum in the weeks ahead. With only 3 team members, the boys will compete as individuals moving forward in the season. Veteran runners Jericho Corn (23:33.24) finished 11th and Andrew Wright (24:51.46) placed 15th. Cross Country newcomer Blake Henderson finished 18th in a time of 26:31.28. Also competing for Southwood at this event was incoming freshman, Grace Ranck. Southwood will return to action this Saturday as they continue their invitational schedule at Mississinewa, looking to build on the early success. GIrls Team Scores: Southwood - 27 Wabash - 43 Heritage - Ft. Wayne 50 Northfield - Incomplete Bishop Luers - Incomplete