Fairfield Boys Cross-Country Preview: ‘Great Expectations’
LEESBURG — After placing fourth in the state one season ago, there is only one way to describe the mindset of the upcoming 2017 Fairfield Lions cross-country team, and that is simply high expectations and even higher goals.
Last season, the Lions won their sixth consecutive Southern Hills Athletic Conference championship, their sixth straight district championship and were also regional champions en route to their spectacular Division III State Cross-Country Championship finish with not only a fourth-place team finish, but it was also four spots higher than their previous visit to state in 2015.
During that state run, the Lions had one runner — Noah Richmond — place in the Top 16 in the state, with the now-senior finishing in 11th place and earning All-Ohio honors. Along with Richmond, five of the seven runners are back for the Lions from that state team, including senior Matthew Mangus, along with juniors Brandtson Duffie, Austin Setty and Bennett Hodson. Gone from last season are Wyatt Evans, Trent Swisher and Dillon Burley due to graduation.
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“I look for big things from Noah and Matthew as they build upon a very successful track season,” Fairfield head coach Raymond Friend told The Highland County Press. “Austin, Brandtson and Bennett have come to camp in shape and are going to really help our team.”
Besides the returning five runners, the Lions have a total of 16 boys runners on their roster.
Runners who are set to take the place of the graduated seniors include senior Andrew Davis, sophomore Ethan Davis and junior Sam Buddelmeyer.
“Andrew has really found a new gear for training and running and will be a big part of our 2017 team,” Friend said. “Ethan was an outstanding runner last year, just couldn't crack our top seven. This year, we fully expect him to be up there pushing our juniors and seniors, and Sam has been training really hard and is going to surprise some people this year.”
Also on the roster for the Lions are sophomores Gavin Campbell and Tristan Victor and three freshmen, Cohen Frost and Blake and Brant Haines
“They all can be a big part of our team now and in the future,” Friend said.
Looking back at 2016, during the regular season the Lions won the early season Bob Schul Invitational, where they raced schools from Divisions II and III. The event included 333 runners, and the Lions scored 52 points for first place.
The Division III Region 11 championship for the Lions was the first in program history with a score of 71 points, finishing with a total team time of 1:26:15.79 and an average time of 17:19.64.
The district championship saw five Fairfield runners place in the Top 15, with the Lions scoring a total of 42 points, totaling a team time of 1:26:57.73 for their first-place finish. As a team, the Lions had an average time of 17:23.55.
When the Lions won their sixth straight SHAC crown, they had six of the Top 10 finishers in the race, finishing with a score of 23 and winning the event by 49 points.
With expectations that have them not only back at state, but meeting or exceeding what they accomplished last season, the Lions know they must have a list of goals to accomplish that feat.
“Our team goals this year are simple, and that is to put in the work, be better than last year and have a good time doing that,” Friend said.
“Our expectations include qualifying for state and making sure that we are at our best in that race. It is good for these athletes to set goals and work to achieve them, so I think these kids want high expectations.”
The Lions open their 2017 season on Saturday, Aug. 26 at Seneca East High School.
“This will give us an early test against some really good teams,” Friend said. “The boys have come into the season in shape, but we have to translate that into race day.”