Near full strength, Trojans compete in Washington

WASHINGTON, Iowa ? The band was mostly back together for the Fairfield cross country teams at Tuesday?s Washington Invitational at Washington Country Club.

Though down one runner, the Trojan girls unrolled their most complete lineup in nearly two weeks and took second in the final team standings behind Fort Madison. The Fairfield boys had their top seven back and finished fourth behind Marion, Fort Madison and Highland.

Fairfield coach Jerrod Belzer said he was happy with the way his girls ran Tuesday, and for good reason. The Trojan girls finished runner-up for the first time this season, scoring 46 points to Fort Madison?s 25.

?I thought our girls ran really well tonight. We missed Taylor [Ferrel] but the rest of girls did a great job in her absence,? Belzer said. ?Our girls are starting to get healthy, and I think tonight is going to do a lot for their confidence.?

The Trojans placed two runners in the top 10 and six total runners in the top 20. Jessica Lamb led the Trojans with a runner-up finish in 15:42, and fellow seniors Hannah Sobaski (sixth, 16:47) and Sage Richmond (11th, 17:40) posted solid times after missing last Thursday?s meet.

?Sage and Hannah had their best races of the season,? Belzer said. ?This is the time of the season where you look for seniors to step up, and they certainly did.?

Sophomore Tracy Andermann was 12th in 17:47, followed by senior Brianna Redmann in 15th (18:00). Abby Melcher was 17th overall in 18:21, while Chloe Spalla was 23rd in 18:47.

In the boys? race, Randy Andermann led the Trojans for the sixth time in eight meets, finishing the 5-kilometer course 13th in 17:26. Trevor Starnes was next for Fairfield at 22nd (18:04), and Brandon Taglauer crossed the finish line 28th (18:28). Matt Carr (36th, 19:08) and Makena Dettmann (39th, 19:20) completed Fairfield?s team score of 138.

Darrin Dimmitt was 41st (19:28) and Jonah Marks took 43rd (19:42) as alternates.

?We had some mixed results with our guys but we also had a few PRs mixed in there as well. The guys had some tough competition with Marion, Fort Madison and Highland so their places don?t really tell the whole story. They?re working on getting healthy as well, and I?m confident that they?ll continue to improve.?

In JV action, Emma Lemlin finished 28th (19:21) and Kaitlyn Daugherty was 30th (19:29). Fairfield?s Danielle Garrison (31st, 19:33), Holly Bennett (51st, 22:33) and Nohema Graber (53rd, 22:48) also completed the course. Adam Mueller was 49th for the boys with a time of 20:04. Jordan Van Dijk was 60th (21:45) and Nathan Thompson finished 67th (22:25).

Fairfield will have a little time off before running their final meet of the regular season next Monday at the IMS Invite in Kalona.

Final Team Scores ? Girls

1. Fort Madison 25, 2. Fairfield 46, 3. Marion 61, 4. Washington 119, 5. Keota 224

Fairfield Individual Results

2. Jessica Lamb (15:42), 6. Hannah Sobaski (16:47), 11. Sage Richmond (17:40), 12. Tracy Andermann (17:47), 15. Brianna Redmann (18:00), 17. Abby Melcher (18:21), 23. Chloe Spalla (18:47)

JV ? 28. Emma Lemlin (19:21), 30. Kaitlyn Daugherty (19:29), 31. Danielle Garrison (19:33), 51. Holly Bennett (22:33), 53. Nohema Graber (22:48)

Final Team Scores ? Boys

1. Marion 32, 2. Fort Madison 36, 3. Highland 71, 4. Fairfield 138, 5. Washington 157, 6. Sigourney 179, 7. Keokuk 220

Fairfield Individual Results

13. Randy Andermann (17:26), 22. Trevor Starnes (18:04), 28. Brandon Taglauer (18:28), 36. Matt Carr (19:08), 39. Makena Dettmann (19:20), 41. Darrin Dimmitt (19:28), 43. Jonah Marks (19:42)

JV ? 49. Adam Mueller (20:04), 60. Jordan Van Dijk (21:45), 67. Nathan Thompson (22:25)