BOZEMAN — Sophia Houchin’s comeback is apparently on the right track.

The Butte High sophomore finished her first cross country race of the season Saturday, leading the Bulldog girls at the Bozeman Invitational at the Bridger Creek Golf Course. Houchin, who has been battling an injury since track season, finished the 5-kilometer race in 20 minutes, 49 seconds. (Results)

That put Houchin in 68th place in the race that saw 208 girls finish.

Bozeman sophomore Phoebe Maixner won the race in 17:53. She was followed by Missoula Hellgate’s Reed Stromberg at 18:03 and Billings Skyview’s Kallie Clayton at 18:23.

Junior Penelope Luebke was the only other girl to run for Butte High, whose teams were hit by injuries and sickness. She finished in 23:01.

Eli Balkenbush of Sheridan, Wyoming won the boys’ race. The sophomore finished in 15:06. He was one of five boys to break 16 minutes.

Bozeman’s Taylor Neil took second at 15:10, Missoula Hellgate’s Miles Miller placed third at 15:42, Helena High’s Milo Kauffman crossed fourth in 15:57, and Bozeman’s Branlin Foote finished fith in 15:51.

Three Bulldogs ran for the boys’ varsity team. Sophomore Jason Real lead the way in 18:51. Junior Jack Taylor crossed in 20:16, and junior Lyric Haston finished in 21:11.

Next up for the Bulldogs is the Mountain West Invitational next Saturday in Missoula.