By Cort Reynolds
LIMA - The Bluffton boys cross country team finished sixth at the 10-team Allen County Invitational meet under unseasonably hot, dry conditions in Faurot Park Tuesday evening.

Shawnee won the team team title easily with 31 points. Elida was a distant second with 76 points, while the Pirates finished with 157.

Freshmen Wyatt Lovell and Sam Derstine turned in the top Bluffton performances. The duo ended up 22nd and 24th, respectively, in the 69-runner field.

Bluffton finishers:
22nd Wyatt Lovell 21:08.1
24th Sam Derstine 21:33.2
37th Trey Boblitt 23:17.4
44th Isaiah Conley 24:01.6
47th Caleb Mckenzie 24:24.1
50th Jonah Rehm 24:31.2

The average Bluffton time was 22:52.88.

Sophomore Brady Yingst of Perry won the individual race with a time of 17:33.5.

Allen County Invite team results:
1st Shawnee 31 points
 Average: 18:59.92
2nd Elida 76
 Average: 20:23.40
3rd Bath 104
 Average: 21:08.88
4th Allen East 112
 Average: 21:24.18
5th St. John's 141
6th Bluffton 157
 Total Time: 1:54:24.40
 Average: 22:52.88
7th Lima Central Catholic 180
8th Perry 194
9th Lima Senior 210
10th Spencerville 219

Bluffton runs in the Northwest Conference title meet Saturday, October at Columbus Grove.