ShawneeDispatch.com

The Shawnee Mission West Invitational has long been known for its unique format of pitting not varsity against varsity and junior varsity against junior varsity, opting instead for class-only races.

On Saturday at Shawnee Mission Park that format was ideal for the Shawnee Mission North boys cross country team, and Nathan Sloniker and Alex Hendee in particular. Taking on the area's top seniors, the North duo landed in the top eight. Sloniker finished second among all senior boys with a 5K time of 16:20. Hendee was eighth in 16:55. St. Thomas Aquinas' P.J. Greer was the senior boys champion in 16:06.

Sloniker's time met the national silver standard for 5,000 meters according to the Web site milesplit.us by being below 16:30.

North's success continued in the junior boys race as Jeremiah Craighead placed fifth in 17:03 after outkicking Rockhurst's Matthew Neisius down the home stretch for a photo finish. Roy Wedge of Lawrence won the race in 15:57. Also for North, Ephraim Chaney was 10th in 17:38, Jacob Ryan was 13th in 17:51, Carolos Vargas was 18th in 18:06 and Connor Lutz was 27th in 18:46.

In the sophomore boys race, North's Ryan Koster placed fourth in 17:58 and Jacob Berg was eighth in 18:12. Rick Park also cracked the top 25, placing 25th in 19:06 and Ben Enyart was 28th in 19:08.

Sam Yoakum was the top performing North freshman boy. He placed 11th in the freshman race in 18:39.

In the senior girls 4K race, North's Vanessa Sanders as the top Indian runner, finishing 23rd in 18:58. Right by her side in 24th was Amanda Cushing in 24th in 18:58.

In the junior girls race, Hannah Lubis was 21st in 18:01 and Dylan Meeker was 30th in 18:47. Billie Lubis highlighted North's sophomore girls race as she finished seventh in 16:30. Teammate Sarah Hendee was 15th in 17:14 and Caroline Nugent was 31st in 19:17.

Courtney Shultz placed 20th for North in the freshman girls race in 18:49. Fellow freshman Abby Schleicher was 33rd in 19:46.