Tigers running with the pack

Posted under Farmington on Thursday 9 September 2010 at 2:36 pm

by Andy Rogers
Thisweek Newspapers

The Farmington boys cross country team is hoping to dodge some blows in 2010 that hindered the Tigers last year.

By the end of last season, the team’s overall health was under the weather. The boys finished fourth in the Missota Conference and ninth in Section 1AA.

“We … had some injuries and sickness last year at the conference meet,” coach Keith Revels said. “Timing is everything when you get to conference and section meets. We need to be healthy.”

Losing two of the team’s top five scorers means someone needs to step up to help keep Farmington’s score down.

The Tigers are looking for big things this season from Elliot Fenske, who finished 28th at the Class AA state tournament last year.

“Elliot had a great season last year,” coach Keith Revels said.

He was fourth at the Dakota County Classic in Eagan on Sept. 3 in an eight-team race. Farmington finished fifth overall.

The team is also counting on Chad Retterrath, who had some solid times during the track season.

The hard-working Carl Elmer is back along with Lincoln Kirchoff, who was   hindered by injuries last year.

Matt Thomas and Alec Wilson also have the ability to be top-five runners for Farmington.

Girls

The Farmington girls  placed sixth out of nine teams on Sept. 3 at the Dakota Classic in Eagan against teams such as Lakeville South, Eagan, and New Prague.

Baily Opsal finished 19th overall and Maricia Pacheco finished 21st.

Other key returning varsity runners for the Tigers include  Nicole Clifton, Marissa Stewart, sophomore Maria Kiminski, Victoria Jacoby and Sofia Chadwick.

“One of the strengths that this team has is that they are hard workers and they have great attitudes,” coach Heidi Revels said. “They want to do well individually and as a team, and they get excited about meeting their goals.”

With just one senior on varsity, the team is relying on several eighth- and ninth-graders for points this year.

“The concern continues to be that we have low numbers of runners, which is a result of the number of other girls fall sports that are available,” Revels said.

Andy Rogers is at
andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com.

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