IDAHO FALLS – Pinedale High School juniors Madison Antonino and Cora Koci commenced their cross-country season with the Jackson Hole High School (JHHS) team at the Night at the Races 5-kilometer event in Idaho Falls on Friday, Aug. 25.

The race was an informal “warm-up” for the season and runners did not wear uniforms or race shoes at an event that was “mostly for fun,” said JHHS Head Coach Jeff Brazil.

The girls’ varsity 5-kilometer race was split into two groups. Antonino handily won the first section, posting a time of 20 minutes, 32.90 seconds. She beat Savannah Ivans from Shelley High School in Idaho with more than 1 minute to spare.

Antonino also posted the fastest time out of 128 runners in both sections of the girls’ varsity division, ahead of the frontrunner in the second section, Courtney Earl of Idaho Falls, by 1.2 seconds.

Koci finished in 26th place in the first section of girls’ varsity, crossing the finish line with a solid time of 26:17.40.

Both Antonino and Koci helped the JHHS varsity girls’ place second as a team with 53 points.

The JHHS harriers travel to Soda Springs, Idaho, for the annual Cardinal Classic on Sept. 3.

Antonino and Koci each spent the summer training hard and racking up the miles to prepare for the fall cross-country season, said Coach Brazil, and he looks forward to tracking the athletes’ achievements this autumn.