Fairfield Lions win regional championship; return to state
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
One year after finishing as regional runners-up, the Fairfield Lions took their rightful spot at the top of the Southeast District in Division III, bringing home a regional championship trophy to Leesburg after a solid performance at the regional event held at Pickerington North High School.
The Lions won regionals with a total of 71 points, finishing with a total team time of 1:26:15.79 and an average time of 17:19.64. With their finish, the Lions qualify for the state meet for the fourth consecutive year.
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In second place was Mt. Gilead with 99 points, including a team time of 1:26:38.16 and an average time of 17:19.64. In third through fifth places were Caldwell (105), Columbus Academy (123) and Rock Hill (139). Southern Hills Athletic Conference counterpart Eastern Brown was sixth place overall with 178 points.
Fairfield was led by junior Noah Richmond with a time of 16:39.16 (5:21.6 average mile) for a seventh-place finish. In 10th place was junior Matthew Mangus at 17:02.07, averaging a mile time of 5:29.0.
Sophomore Bennett Hodson was 21st overall with an average mile time of 5:36.9 and an overall time of 17:26.47. Also in the Top 30 were sophomore Austin Setty at 17:33.66 (5:39.2) in 26th place and senior Trent Swisher in 27th place with a time of 17:34.43 (5:39.4).
No Fairfield runner placed out of the Top 51 runners (there were 135 total runners), as Wyatt Evans, a senior, was 50th with a time of 18:03.61 (5:48.8) and in 51st was sophomore Brandtson Duffie at 18:04.64 (5:49.4).
“Last year, we were second by one point, and our athletes were determined to not let that happen again,” Fairfield head coach Raymond Friend told The Highland County Press. “Once again, the strength of our squad is how tight we run from one through five.
“We were led by Noah Richmond, who qualified for the state tournament as an individual for the first time, and Matthew Mangus, who qualified for a second time. Our next three – Bennett Hodson, Austin Setty and Trent Swisher – all ran a strong race to make sure we get a chance to compete with the best Division III teams in the state.”
Winning the regional was Mount Gilead senior Austin Hallabrin (16:19.30), and in third place was Eastern Brown senior Blake Rigdon (16:28.14). Fifth place went to Peebles junior Matt Seas at 16:33.42.
This season, the Lions won their sixth consecutive SHAC championship, along with their sixth straight SE District title in Division III.
The Lions will race in the Division III State Meet on Saturday, Nov. 5 at National Trail Raceway in Hebron. The boys Division III race will start at 11 a.m., the first of the state meet.
The Lions won regionals with a total of 71 points, finishing with a total team time of 1:26:15.79 and an average time of 17:19.64. With their finish, the Lions qualify for the state meet for the fourth consecutive year.
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In second place was Mt. Gilead with 99 points, including a team time of 1:26:38.16 and an average time of 17:19.64. In third through fifth places were Caldwell (105), Columbus Academy (123) and Rock Hill (139). Southern Hills Athletic Conference counterpart Eastern Brown was sixth place overall with 178 points.
Fairfield was led by junior Noah Richmond with a time of 16:39.16 (5:21.6 average mile) for a seventh-place finish. In 10th place was junior Matthew Mangus at 17:02.07, averaging a mile time of 5:29.0.
Sophomore Bennett Hodson was 21st overall with an average mile time of 5:36.9 and an overall time of 17:26.47. Also in the Top 30 were sophomore Austin Setty at 17:33.66 (5:39.2) in 26th place and senior Trent Swisher in 27th place with a time of 17:34.43 (5:39.4).
No Fairfield runner placed out of the Top 51 runners (there were 135 total runners), as Wyatt Evans, a senior, was 50th with a time of 18:03.61 (5:48.8) and in 51st was sophomore Brandtson Duffie at 18:04.64 (5:49.4).
“Last year, we were second by one point, and our athletes were determined to not let that happen again,” Fairfield head coach Raymond Friend told The Highland County Press. “Once again, the strength of our squad is how tight we run from one through five.
“We were led by Noah Richmond, who qualified for the state tournament as an individual for the first time, and Matthew Mangus, who qualified for a second time. Our next three – Bennett Hodson, Austin Setty and Trent Swisher – all ran a strong race to make sure we get a chance to compete with the best Division III teams in the state.”
Winning the regional was Mount Gilead senior Austin Hallabrin (16:19.30), and in third place was Eastern Brown senior Blake Rigdon (16:28.14). Fifth place went to Peebles junior Matt Seas at 16:33.42.
This season, the Lions won their sixth consecutive SHAC championship, along with their sixth straight SE District title in Division III.
The Lions will race in the Division III State Meet on Saturday, Nov. 5 at National Trail Raceway in Hebron. The boys Division III race will start at 11 a.m., the first of the state meet.