Lions finish 3rd at Panther Invitational; middle school teams win at WCH
The Fairfield High School boys and girls cross-country teams competed Saturday, Oct. 3 at Pickerington North High School's Panther Invitational.
The boys team placed third with a total of 158 points. They were close behind champion Newark, a Division I school who won the meet with a team total of 149 points. Runner-up Unioto, a state-ranked Division II school, earned 154 points.
The Lions finished ahead of the following schools: Fredericktown, who is ranked seventh in the latest D3 state cross-country poll; Columbus Bishop Watterson; New Albany; Canal Winchester; Shaker Heights; Athens; Tri-Valley; Fairfield Union; Riverview; Fairfield Christian, who is ranked 16th in the latest D3 state cross-country poll; Mt. Vernon; Claymont; Cardington Lincoln; Liberty Union; Caldwell; Bexley; Reynoldsburg; Marietta; Ft. Frye; Sardinia Eastern; Lancaster Fisher Catholic; Licking Heights; Pickerington North; Manchester; Hamilton Township; Columbus Northland; Belpre; Bloom Carrroll; Peebles; Shadyside; Utica; Columbus Westland; and River Valley.
The boys team was led by sophomore Noah Richmond in 26th overall with a time of 17:18. Next for Fairfield was junior Wyatt Evans in 29th with a time of 17:22, and sophomore Matthew Mangus was 33rd with a time of 17:2.
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"I know Coach Friend and the rest of the coaching staff are pleased and optimistic as we enter the upcoming postseason stage of our season," volunteer coach Bill Mangus said. "We have several runners who have shown tremendous improvement this season, and we look forward to sustaining that and coming back to Pickerington North HS to compete in the regional championship."
Junior Dillon Burley placed 40th with a time of 17:42, while sophomore Andrew Davis was 45th with a time of 17:46. Next was freshman Austin Setty in 50th with a time of 17:50, and junior Trent Swisher placed 52nd with a time of 17:51.
Freshman Brandtson Duffie finished 97th with a time of 18:37, and next was Bennett Hodson in 98th with a time of 18:39. Sophomore Nick Price was 104th with a time of 18:42. The field had a total of 260 runners.
The Fairfield Lady Lions did not field a full team Saturday. Three runners represented the team. Coming in first for the team was freshman Alexis Swisher placing 146th in 22:57; next was freshman, Megan Gragg, placing 166th in 23:35; and Meadow Cunningham finished 254th in 28:27. There was a total of 267 runners in the girls race.
The Fairfield boys had five runners in the open race. Freshman Sam Buddelmeyer was fourth at 18:46, and he was followed by junior Mason Cain, 12th in 19:19; junior Jason Moeller, 126th in 24:25; freshman Phoenix Taylor, 130th in 24:39; and freshman Riley Friend, 147th in 28:39. There were a total of 151 runners in the boys' reserve open race.
The Fairfield Middle School boys and girls teams traveled to Washington Court House on Saturday. The middle school girls defeated Hillsboro, Washington, Miami Trace, Bishop Flaget and Chillicothe to take first place. The Fairfield middle school boys were also victorious over Miami Trace, Chillicothe, Hillsboro, East Clinton, Greenfield and Bishop Flaget.
All middle school and high school boys and girls teams will compete on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Unioto Invitational held at Unioto High School in Chillicothe.