BOX ELDER - Sturgis' Madeleine Takahashi opened up the 2008 cross country season with a win in the girls varsity 3,000-meter race at the Douglas Early Bird at Prairie Ridge Golf Course on Friday.

Takahashi, the defending Class AA champion, finished the 3,000-meter course in 15 minutes, 50.23 seconds. Rapid City Stevens' Annie Pfeifle took second with a time of 16:04.90. Lottie Grimshaw of Todd County rounded out the top three in 16:13.99.

Hill City's Andy Coy won the boys' 5,000-meter race in a time of 17:09.37. Stevens' Riley Coates was fast on his heels for second place in 17:14.88.

Damien Schuster of Sturgis took third and Marc Whirlwind Soldier of Todd County finished fourth with times of 17:26.90 and 17:46.47, respectively.

Douglas, R.C. Central and R.C. Stevens will run against each other at the Northern Hills Invitational at the Spearfish Canyon Country Club on Thursday.