Fairfield 29 August 2016

Fairfield Lions cross-country shows strength with win at Bob Schul Invitational

By
The Highland County Press-

In the small Division II/III boys cross-country race at the Bob Schul Invitational Saturday morning, the three-time state qualifying Fairfield Lions cross-country team showed teams from the rest of the state they still have the strength to return and compete at that level once again this season.

The Lions not only won the race, but they dominated. Racing against 30 schools in their division of the event, including a total of 333 runners, the Lions scored 52 points for first place over second-place Valley View with 149 points. Third place went to Brockville with 151 points.

“Most of my varsity runners put in a lots of miles this summer, but it still had to show up in a race,” FHS head coach Raymond Friend told The Highland County Press. “Well, it did Saturday morning as the boys raced at 9:35 a.m.”

Fairfield also had two runners place in the Top 5, with junior Noah Richmond being the race runner-up at 16:54.7 (a 5:27 mile pace) and junior Matthew Mangus in fifth with a time of 17:17.0, a mile pace of 5:35. 

 

FHS also added another runner in the Top 10 with Wyatt Evans in ninth at 17:25.4, a mile pace of 5:37.

Brandtson Duffie placed 17th with a time of 17:39.4 (5:42 mile pace), followed by Austin Setty in 19th with a time of 17:44.3, giving the Lions five runners in the Top 20 of the invitational.

Trent Swisher finished with a time of 18:03.3 for a 29th place finish, as the FHS runner had a mile pace of 5:49.

“I was really proud of the way they raced,” Friend said. “They did not get too excited and they ran a smart race passing other athletes along the course.”

In 36th place overall was Andrew Davis at 18:18.7, resulting in a mile pace of 5:54. Ethan Davis followed in the 40th overall spot at 18:22.2 (5:55 mile pace). The eighth FHS Lion to place in the Top 50 was Dillon Burley with a 46th place finish and a time of 18:28.5 (5:57 mile pace).

Bennett Hodson was 58th place at 18:46.7 (6:03), and Sam Buddlemeyer finished in 77th at 19:11.7 (6:11). Also for FHS, Nick Price placed 97th (19:41.3) as the Lions totaled 11 runners in the Top 100.

Also running for the Lions were: Gavin Campbell (21:48.7), Tristan Victor (22:10.9), Trey Wilkinson (23:03.6), Derek Cooper (25:32.5) and Riley Friend (29:18.9).

The Fairfield girls team placed 11th overall in their Division III race on Saturday, led by second place finisher Ciara Colwell with a time of 20:25.9, a 6:35 mile pace.

“I am also really proud of my girls team,” Friend said. “Freshman Ciara Colwell passed five runners in the last half mile to finish second overall in a deep girls race with three teams from the state meet last year.”

The Lions have won both races they’ve competed in this season, winning in Greenfield at the McClain Invitational last Wednesday.

For complete results of Saturday’s race, click here.

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