The Ida Baker cross country team didn’t get off to the kind of start it wanted in the season-opening Optimist Invitational at Veterans Park in Lehigh.

The boys’ team finished fifth (out of 24 teams) and the girls’ team came in fourth (out of 22), but coach John Hyler said the team has higher expectations this season

He took blame for the team looking fatigued during the Optimist Invitational.

“We did a lot of hard workouts and looked exhausted,” he said.

During their recent four-team meet in Key West last Saturday, Hyler said they looked much more comfortable.

Junior Jessie Betts was the top individual for the Bulldogs, finishing third, and they claimed six of the top eight spots.

Jeff Miller, Cory Hinkle, Zach Nall, Zach Stackhouse and Michael Fernandez contributed to the Bulldogs’ first-place finish in the overall team standings.

The girls’ team placed second, led by junior Darlene Hanlon, who took second overall. Hanlon had a strong sophomore season, qualifying for state, but has been recovering from a foot injury.

The Bulldogs also feature junior Amanda Kane, senior Lacey Sovern and freshman Jennifer Martinez.

It’s still early in the cross country season, but other area teams are training hard for some challenging meets in the upcoming weeks.

Mariner and Baker are among the teams competing in the Florida Runners meet in Titusville Saturday. Mariner then hosts its own Triton Invitational Oct. 18. The LCAC meet follows on Oct. 24 at Estero.

Mariner, Cape Coral and Island Coast also began their seasons at the Optimist Invitational Sept. 20.

Island Coast, a first-year varsity program, placed 20th (girls) and 21st (boys).

Three-time state qualifier Emily LaBarbera led the Triton girls’ team to a seventh-place finish. The boys’ team came in 23rd.

“I thought it was a great starting point for us,” said Mariner girls’ coach Angela Hancock, in her fifth year. “The girls are working hard and doing good things during the week. I see good things happening as the season unfolds.”

The Tritons have nine girls on the squad. LaBarbera is one of four seniors along with Renee and Jennifer Erickson and Maggie Swistak. The team includes juniors Kelsey Hasten, Heather Stephens and Amber Jakaci and sophomores Alicen Wilbur and Andrea Jaurequi.

The Tritons continued their season last Saturday at the North Port Invitational. The boys placed 15th and the girls claimed the fifth spot.

Cape High has competed in only one meet, so far, but coach Doug Dingerson said he was encouraged by the results.

In the Optimist, the Seahawks had a seventh-place finish for the boys. The girls’ team, which has only one returnee, came in 22nd.

Senior Brad Beatty finished eighth, while junior Blake Behr took 15th for the Seahawks.

Zach Kovacik of North Fort Myers and Erick Montoya of Estero, who finished first and second, figure to be top runners all season.

Dingerson said with so many teams at the Optimist, it was a tight, competitive race to begin the year.

“It was packed,” he said. “With only 16 (teams) in district, it will be a little easier to pass.”

On the girls’ side, the Seahawks are led this season by seniors Caryn Rhodes and Carly Boscarino, and freshman Joanna Addison.

The Seahawks are hoping to make strides in the Triton Invitational.