The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School cross country team put on a strong showing at the 12th annual Vineyard Invitational Saturday morning, with seven Vineyard runners finishing in the top 20 of their respective races.

The practice fields were covered with runners warming up on the cool, breezy morning, wearing singlets of every color. The meet is the largest of the season on the Island, bringing together 22 teams and over 800 runners from across the Commonwealth and surrounding states for five races through the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest. Each race was five kilometers except for a three kilometer co-ed freshmen race.

Vineyard Invitational brings in runners from all over the Commonwealth and five surrounding states. — Mark Alan Lovewell

Vineyard freshmen were the overall stars of the invitational with three runners finishing in the top 10. Zach Utz was the quickest with a time of 10:24 and fourth place finish out of nearly 100 runners. For the girls, Adrienne Christy came in second with a time of 12:27 and Eloise Christy followed close behind in seventh place with a time of 13:15. Kailyn Freeman finished in 17th with a time of 14:21.

“Our freshmen as a whole did outstanding,” said coach Joe Schroeder after the race.

In the boys junior varsity race, Joseph Bonneau finished with a time 19:42 putting him in 17th place out of 146 runners, the largest group of the day. It was a personal record.

“I just started cross country this season, so I’m pretty happy with the results,” he said.

Two Vineyard runners placed in the top 15 in the varsity division where they faced some of the top runners in the state. Junior Catherine Cherry sprinted through the huge crowd of cheering spectators to place 15th with a time of 20:10.

Coach Joe Schroeder gets his team psyched and ready to run. — Mark Alan Lovewell

“I’m a three-season runner,” she said. “I just love this sport.”

Junior Peter Burke was the fastest Vineyard runner of the day, with a time of 17:04, putting him in 11th place, just one minute from the top finisher.

Burke’s performance also led the boys varsity team to an eighth place finish out of 16 boys teams with an average time of 17:52 between the seven varsity Vineyard runners.

Though the team is only two meets deep, Mr. Schroeder said Saturday’s performances were an indication of a strong season ahead.

“They stepped up today,” he said. “The competition pushes them. Everyone had their best race of the season so far.”