The Bedford boys cross country team competed in the Lamplighter Invitational in Livonia Friday night, racing at 8:45pm (JV) and 11:00pm (Varsity) along a lighted course at Livonia's Ford Field Park. In the JV race, the Kicking Mules finished 2nd in the field of 13 teams, bested only by a strong Northville squad. Leading the JV team was junior Aidan Ortiz, finishing 8th in the field of 200 runners, in a time of 18:12. Junior Maceo Colon and sophomore Brandon McCloud also medaled for the Mules, placing 15th (18:35) and 18th (18:43), respectively. Rounding out the scoring in the JV race were junior Jonas Enriquez (32nd in 19:20) and freshman Logan Thomas (36th in 19:23).

In the final race of the night, the varsity squad took 9th in the field of 15 teams. The Mule Pack lived up to their nickname, having the tightest pack of scoring runners in the field, with a spread of only 43 seconds between their first and fifth runner. The Mules were led by freshman Cam Varner, who crossed the line in 37th place in the field of 144 competitors, running a time of 17:23. Sophomore Dane Hieronimus (46th in 17:31) and junior Nick Balla (56th in 17:45) were close on Varner's heels. Senior Gabe Bock (65th in 18:06) and junior Jordan Bunce (66th in 18:07) finished the scoring for Bedford. 

The Kicking Mules compete next at the Happy Acres Invitational in Weberville, MI, on Saturday, August 26, at 10:40am.