Dow High sophomore Emilia Garces claimed a remarkable third-place finish among 163 runners in the girls’ Elite Division. Traversing challenging terrain at the Shepherd Bluejay Invitational, she and her teammates showcased a spirited performance against a high-caliber field, including top teams like Traverse City West and Flint Powers.

Area high school cross country teams faced two major weekend competitions. The Devils pushed through stiff opposition at Granite City, while QND and Liberty competed in Rochester, making for an eventful Saturday.