Fall sports: Fairfield girls balance experience, talent

Jerrod Belzer is a veteran coach for the Fairfield girls? cross-country team, but steps into a new element this fall.

Belzer will also lead the boys? team as the two squads combine under one coach. Known quantities are plentiful on the girls? side, but the runners on the boys? side will be just as new as the head coach.

The Trojans return just one of last year?s top seven runners while the girls appear just as strong as they?ve been the past couple years. Leading that charge is the strong junior class headed by Jessica Lamb, Hannah Sobaski and Sage Richmond.

Lamb was a state qualifier as a freshman, the conference champion as a sophomore and enters with an impressive resume through two years of cross country and track.

?Jess appears to be back to where she was at the end of her freshman year, and all the girls are looking strong,? Belzer said. ?A lot of people look at girls and think they kind of deteriorate as they get older, but they have really stepped up and improved from top to bottom.?

Sobaski figures to be running in the No. 2 slot followed by senior Serena Ward and a combination of Richmond, junior Courtney Laux and freshman Tracy Andermann, who has stepped in as a newcomer.

?We?re still trying to iron out those last few varsity spots, but we?re just seeing which of the remaining girls can take that step forward,? Belzer added.

The strength at the top of the lineup should put the Trojans in the hunt yet again for a Southeast Conference crown. Standing in their way will be a young Mount Pleasant team that stole it from under Fairfield?s nose by one point via tiebreaker last October. The Panthers return a strong team that includes four sophomores who ran varsity in 2010.

?We?re looking at them as the team to beat in the conference,? said Belzer. ?We also have Fort Madison to contend with, so there will be quite a bit of competition.?

The boys also hope to be in the hunt for team victories each night, and, while experience isn?t exactly a strength, competition amongst each other could push the Trojans along.

?I know a lot of people are expecting the guys to be down, but I?ve seen some great things,? Belzer said. ?We have 15 guys who could easily fill in those varsity spots.?

That 15 needs to be whittled all the way down to seven, and aside from the two or three leaders, it could be a fluid situation all year.

Isaac Schloss is the only returning runner with solid varsity experience but good numbers make for a solid core. Team captain Brandon Taglauer has come out as the No. 1 runner in preseason practices, freshmen Jonah Marks, Trevor Starnes and Logan Swanson have provided a much-needed boost from newcomers. Senior Quinton Bradfield and junior Makenna Dettman then lead a crowded group.

?There is some talent ? some freshmen are looking strong, and some guys who have never ran and are now out for the first time,? said Belzer. ?It may take a few weeks for everyone to come around, but I think we?ll have a strong season.?

The boys? lineup isn?t the only thing not yet set in stone, but steps are already being taken in the right direction. Considering the new situation and the heavy load now on Belzer?s shoulders, expect the Trojans to be a couple meets into the season before everything gets sorted out.

?It?s been an adjustment, but I think it?s a bigger adjustment for me than it is the kids,? Belzer said. ?I even think the kids enjoy it because it?s more training partners and more people to run with in practice.?

Fairfield will open the season Sept. 1 at Wildwood Park in Ottumwa.