Among the top girls teams at the Rim Rock Farm High School Cross Country Classic on Saturday were Midwest region powerhouses like Jenks, Okla., and large Missouri schools like Liberty, Lee’s Summit North and St. Joseph Central.

Teams expected to prevail at one of the largest high school meets in the Midwest.

Then, there was a Class 4A Kansas school like Baldwin.

The Bulldogs proved that the school of about 330 students can indeed run with the big boys, as the girls placed ninth and the boys were 17th in the gold division, the most competitive of the three offered.

“We were really surprised,” said junior Erica Ogle, whose 16th-place finish was tops among BHS runners in the 4K race. “Our No. 2 runner (Kayla Pringle) didn’t even finish; she had a sprained ankle. So we were kind of disappointed with that, but then we saw the results. We didn’t expect this.”

Anyone following Kansas cross country knows about the Bulldogs. Their boys have won the past four state titles, while their girls hope this is their year.

“That’s what we’re shooting for,” Ogle said. “The last few years we’ve been close, but things have been coming together this year.”

Ogle was the only medalist for the girls’ team, while the boys’ top runner was Phil Wagner, who finished 68th, running 17:55 for the 5K course.

Mill Valley’s boys, running in the Crimson division, one below Gold, had the individual winner, but finished behind Tonganoxie in the team standings.

Junior Jay Matlack ran away with the boys’ title, covering the 5K course in 17:10. He got out fast, which he said was crucial to his first-ever individual title.

“I usually don’t start that fast,” Matlack said. “I was told by my coach to get out fast and stay in the top three.”