The cold, rainy weather was not ideal to be running long distances outdoors on Saturday, but that did not stop local high school cross country runners from competing in regional meets.

At the Class 2A Highland Regional, both the Waterloo boys and girls cross country squads advanced to the sectional as well as the Columbia girls team.

The Waterloo boys tied for second as a team with Triad with 83 points. The Bulldogs were led by seniors Eli Ward and Jackson McAlister, who placed first and second, respectively. Ward ran a time of 15:50.1. McAlister ran a time of 16:08.

Waterloo freshman Joe Schwartz placed ninth with a time of 16:43.

Mascoutah won the meet with 55 points.

Advancing as individuals from the boys race were Columbia seniors Ethan Sturm and Tristan Oestreich. Sturm placed 13th overall and Oestreich placed 36th.

In the girls race, Waterloo placed fifth as a team and Columbia placed sixth.

Waterloo was led by senior Rachel Patterson, who placed second overall with a time of 19:08. Molly Grohmann, a freshman, placed 32nd with a time of 21:20. Colleen Sliment, a senior, placed 33rd with a time of 21:25.

Columbia was led by freshman Madison Missey in 12th place with a time of 20:31, followed by sophomore Izzy Barker in 18th place and freshman Brooklyn Oestreich in 42nd place.

At the Class 1A New Athens Regional, Valmeyer’s Jacob Mosbacher qualified for the sectional with a 26th place time of 17:53 in the boys race and Dupo’s Sarah Vanover qualified for the sectional with a 36th place finish in the girls race.