Photo by Noah Rohlfing/Marshalltown Times-Republican: Fort Dodge’s Shawn Roberts competes at the Marshalltown Invitational on Thursday.

MARSHALLTOWN — The Fort Dodge cross country team was in action here Thursday at the 49th Bobcat Invitational hosted by Marshalltown.

West Des Moines Dowling, led by race winner Jackson Heidesch, was crowned the boys champions with 74 points. Ankeny was second followed by Waukee Northwest, Cedar Falls and Dallas Center-Grimes.

The Dodgers placed 22nd overall, finishing ahead of both BCLUW and Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR. Fort Dodge was just two points back of Des Moines Lincoln and six from Indianola.

Heidesch, a senior, went 14:57 to place well ahead of runner-up Carson Owens of Southeast Polk, who finished in 15:34.

Leading the way for the Dodgers was senior Ryan Madden, as he clocked a time of 17:22 to place 77th overall. Junior Michael Wagner was 129th in 19:02, sophomore Shawn Roberts placed 147th in 20:02, classmate Tanner Teske was right behind in 148th in 20:20 and 10th-grader Brady Major was 149th in 20:25.

Omarion Myers-Zimmermann went 21:33 to place 155th with Joshua Madden finishing 156th in 21:33.

Dubuque Hempstead, one of the top girls teams in the state, captured the title with 56 points, placing all five runners in the Top-18. Johnston, Pleasant Valley, West Des Moines Valley and Des Moines Roosevelt rounded out the Top-5.

Valley junior Addison Dorenkamp was the race winner, clocking a time of 17:43. Roosevelt’s Adrienne Buettner-Cable and Abi Hahn were second and third overall.

For the Dodgers, Carsyn Zehr placed 129th in 26:27 with teammate Darylinn Cook right behind her in 130th in a time of 27:36.

Next action for Fort Dodge will be Tuesday at Storm Lake.