The Highland Park High School girls cross country team competed in the Marcus I Invitational at North Lakes Park in Denton on Saturday and, for the first time, ran on a 5K course.

Beginning this year, girls cross country teams at 4A and 5A schools in Texas, which includes 4A Highland Park, must compete in 5K races, an increase in distance from the two-mile races that high school girls teams in the state ran in the past.

Highland Park fielded two varsity teams at the Marcus I Invitational — one that competed against 5A schools and another that raced 4A teams.

The Highland Park team that ran in the 5A varsity division finished in third place behind Southlake Carroll and Flower Mound, which are two very large 5A schools, while the Lady Scots squad that competed in the 4A varsity division came in fourth place.

Highland Park also fielded a team that won the 4A junior varsity division.

The Lady Scots cross country team's next meet is the Stallion Stampede, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 8 at Samuell Farm in Mesquite.

(Photos and information courtesy of Rob Graham.)