Fairfield girls run to victory at Demon Relays

WASHINGTON ? A win is a win, and Fairfield picked one up Thursday night in Washington.

The Trojans bested the rest of the girls? field at the Demon Relays with a boost from second-place Washington missing its four-event athlete Lucy Libe. But even thought the win may have given Fairfield a ?false sense of security? over the conference rival Demons according to head coach Ron Hunderdosse, the Trojans will take it.

Fairfield finished the meet with 176 team points followed by Washington?s 129 and another Southeast Conference foe Fort Madison coming in with 92.

With Thursday putting the third meet under Fairfield?s belt, the young squad loaded with freshmen has begun to make the strides Hunerdosse was hoping for in the preseason.

Jessica Lamb, Tori Keltner, Hannah Sobaski and Sydney Howard ? all freshmen ? all put in solid efforts Thursday for the Trojans.

Lamb fell a few second off of her 400-meter dash pace from Tuesday?s Fairfield Relays but bounced back in a big way with a second-place finish in the 800 (2:23) as well as taking the 1500 crown in 5:27.

Keltner was a relay warrior for the Trojans helping the 4x800, 800-medley and 4x400 squads all to top finishes. The 4x800 team of Thompson, Keltner, Sobaski and Tiffani Brush was second (10:59), the sprint medley combination of Annie Buch, Kiersten Vaughan, Courtney Laux and Keltner was third in 2:06.54 and the 4x400 team of Laux, Keltner, Kerr and Brush was runner-up in 4:43. For good measure, Kelnter also cleared a season-best 4?6? at the high jump pit to finish fourth.

Howard did her damage in the sprint events helping the Trojans, along with Buch, Vaughan and Libbey Schubert, to a win in the 4x100 (53.07) and a second-place result in the 4x200 (1:56.52) along with Buch, Vaughan and Thompson. The freshman also placed second in the long jump (14? 11?).

?We know what we?re going to get from Libbey Schubert, but if we?re going to win the conference, these are the girls that are going to have to step up,? Hunerdosse said. ?The young kids are really starting to develop.?

The performances Hunerdosse has come to expect from Schubert are something she has had no problem delivering. The senior won all four of her events Thursday to wrap up a perfect week that includes eight victories in eight tries when counting the four wins from Tuesday at Trojan Stadium.

In Washington, Schubert swept the sprint events winning the 100 (13.01), the 200 (27.12) and leading from wire to wire out in lane eight in the 400 with a personal record time of 1:02.86.

Fellow senior Katie Hammes also kept with tradition with high finishes in both the shot put (2nd, 37? 4?) and discus (2nd, 93? 10?). Another freshman, Sidney Baumann, also shot up the shot discus standings with a career-best toss of 92-feet, 9.5-inches.

?Sidney is only going to get better; it?s very encouraging to see that improvement already,? said Hunerdosse.

The usual shuttle-hurdle foursome of Vaughan, Grace Smith, Taylor Silvres and Ashley Manning was runner up with a time of 1:17.62.

Next up for the Trojans will be a JV/varsity meet at Fort Madison Tuesday.