Lions win Highland County Invitational for 6th straight year
LEESBURG — For the sixth consecutive year, the Fairfield Lions cross-country team defended their home course and in the process continued to have bragging rights in the county, as they were the top team in the 2015 Highland County Invitational.
The Tuesday win at their home course by the Lions saw them score 15 points to defeat fellow Highland County schools Hillsboro, McClain, Lynchburg-Clay and Whiteoak. The Lions secured first through ninth places, and 10 of the first 11 spots in the standings.
Fairfield also totaled 12 of the Top 14 spots in the event, as they have yet to lose to a team this season. They've placed first in the team standings in each of their races thus far this season.
In second place for the team was Hillsboro with 64 points, followed by LC at 73 for a third-place finish. In fourth was Whiteoak at 88, and in fifth was McClain with 138 points.
The event was won by Fairfield sophomore Matthew Mangus, winning the invitational for the first time in his high school career. Mangus finished with a time of 17:05.
Taking the second-place spot was sophomore Noah Richmond of the Lions with a time of 17:12.
In third was freshman Austin Setty at 17:39, while junior Wyatt Evans finished in fourth place for the Lions with a time of 17:41. In '14, Evans won the invitational with a time of 16:29.
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Wrapping up the Top 5 was FHS sophomore Andrew Davis at 17:42. Junior Dillon Burley was sixth with a time of 17:54, while the seventh-place spot went to junior Trent Swisher. Swisher completed the race with a time of 18:24.
The remainder of the Top 10 was eighth-place finisher FHS sophomore Nick Price at 18:28, while FHS freshman Bennett Hodson was ninth at 18:56, and in 10th place was Hillsboro senior Zach Middleton at 18:56.
Eleventh place went to Fairfield freshman Sam Buddelmeyer (19:14), followed by Lynchburg-Clay junior Brandon McCammon in 12th place at 19:17. The rest of the Top 15 were: FHS freshman Brandtson Duffie (19:27), FHS junior Mason Cain (19:36) and HHS junior Micah Pinney (19:42).
The remainder of the Top 20 (16-20) included: LC junior Bobby Merry (19:46), HHS freshman Ty Alexander (20:00), Whiteoak freshman Zach DeAtley (20:04), HHS sophomore Justin Scott (20:09), and WHS freshman Atlee Carr (20:59).
In all, there were 47 runners for the boys.
The middle school boys winner was eighth grader Cannon Woolridge of Greenfield Middle School with a time of 11:41. Fairfield won the team championship with a low score of 20 points.
For complete boys results, click here.