MOSES LAKE — After a week of running up and down the halls at school because the air quality was too poor to get any work done outside, it just felt good to get out and blow the jets out, stretch it out and run the first cross country meet of the season at the Moses Lake Invitational.

Mt. Spokane put five in the top 20 to win the boys varsity race Saturday afternoon at Blue Heron Park. But Moses Lake held its own with two in the top 10 to finish fourth in a highly contested meet that saw just six points separate second from fourth place.

Kennewick junior Johan Correa won the boys race by 37 seconds, posting a time of 16 minutes, 13.6 seconds over the 5,000-meter course. Moses Lake senior Zach Owens was sixth in 17:42.20 and Joshua Cooper placed ninth with a time of 17:52.50 for the Chiefs, who were close to putting three in the top 20. Junior Brandon Wood was just out of the top 20, placing 21st (18:49.70) in the 79-runner field.

“It was a really competitive race,” said Owens, who along with Cooper ran in last year’s 4A state championship. “My main goal was to run my own race and make the top 10 the first time out, then keep on building and improving the rest of the season.”

A year ago, the Chiefs qualified three individuals for the 4A state race in Pasco. The goal is to return to the state competition with a full team. Three in the top 21 in a competitive field like Saturday is a step in the right direction said Cooper, who tripped and fell at the 2-mile point but still had the presence of mind to get back up and finish strong.

“Mental ability and the team package is what separates the weak from the strong in this sport,” he said. “Zach and I are the top two runners right now, but we have a really good pack time. If you can get your No. 4 or No. 5 ahead of their No. 1, that’s points away from their team. Our plan this year is to get everybody to state.”

Killian King (28th) and Matt Humphreys (31st) rounded out the Chiefs’ scoring five.

Where Correa was nigh untouchable, blowing away a quality field. Royal’s Rudy Flores and Silver Beltran proved they can run with the elite feet in the state. Flores was 10th in 17:54.6 and Beltran was a fraction back in 11th, clocking 17:54.8.

“It was just another race for us, but I felt good for the first race of the season,” Flores said. “Being on this team feels like family and I think today proves we can run with anybody.”

Girls varsity meet

Cheney ran away with the girls meet with a score of 43. Camille Carpenter turned in an exceptional performance in her first varsity cross country meet, finishing sixth overall (21:03.77) to lead the Moses Lake girls to fourth place. Sophomore Mikayla Cooper was (22:44.45) was 13th and Carlie Gregg, who competed in the 4A state race last year as a freshman, finished 23rd overall (23:28.6) in the 59-runner girls field.

“I ran cross country a couple of years ago in middle school, but this is my first real meet,” said Carpenter, who moved into third place at the mile-and-a-half-mile marker but couldn’t hold on. “The first two girls took off at the two-mile point and I couldn’t go with them. I just wanted to get the first one under my belt. I felt strong and fast for my first high school race.”

Royal’s Kay Lester turned in a top 10 finish, placing Kay Lester eighth in 21:33.50.

For complete results go to athletic.net.

Boys team scores: 1. Mt. Spokane, 47. 2. (tie) Cheney, Cashmere, 83. 4. Moses Lake, 87. 5. Deer Park, 120. 6. Connell, 132. 7. Kennewick, 179. 8. East Valley, 225. 9. Othello, 284. 10. Lake Roosevelt, 288. 11. Highland, 293.

Moses Lake: 6. Zach Owens, 17:42.20. 9. Joshua Cooper, 17:52.5. 21. Brandon Wood, 18:49.70. 28. Killian King, 19:13.90. 29. Charles Cindric, 19:15.70. 31. Matt Humphreys, 19:18.90. 33. Samuel Roeber, 19:28.70. 45. Tristan Mackin, 20:14.70

Othello: 42. Chris Melo, 20:06.20. 58. Jovani Espindola, 21:13.40. 66. Bryan Lima, 21:39.00. 67. Carter Freeman, 21:42.50. 69. Jonathan Rocha, 22:36.70. 72. Sergio Hernandez, 23:13.90.

Royal: 10. Rudy Flores, 17:54.60. 11. Silver Beltran, 17:54.80. 52. Alfredo Orozco, 20:54.00. 70. Miguel Villa, 22:37.20

Girls team scores: 1. Cheney, 43. 2, Okanongan, 81. 3. Deer Park, 86. 4. Moses Lake, 90. 5. Cashmere, 101. 6. Royal, 118. 7. Connell, 157. 8. Othello, 226.

Moses Lake: 6. Camille Carpenter, 21:03.77. 13. Mikayla Cooper, 22:44.40. 24. Carlie Gregg, 23:28.67. 26. Camille Sanislo, 23:40.33. 39. Obiomahi Abonyi, 25:52.23

Royal: 8. Kay Lester, 21:33.50. 30. Abigail Delay, 24:33.10. 33. Amanda Justo, 24:57.40. 38. Jennifer Quebrado, 25:48.30. 40. Sydney Burke, 25:56.60. 42. Josie Phillips, 26:06.40. 46. Isabel Quiroz, 26:49.00

Othello: 50. Lori Gomez, 27:53.00. 55. Yesica Neponuceno, 29:34.60. 56. Monica Vasquez, 29:53.80. Renae Besherse, 30:37.30. 58. Leslie Rodriguez, 31:02.20.