Jennette Leads Mules To Team Title At Wickham Invite; Lady Mules Second

Hosting their first meet of the year, the Fairfield Mules won the boys’ team title in the Tom Wickham Invitational, while the Lady Mules took second.

Sophomore Grant Jennette set a new meet record with a winning time of 18 minutes, 51 seconds, following up on a strong freshman track season in the spring. The meet records were reset last year when it returned to Leo French Park with a new course. Fairfield’s Chase Smith holds the course record, set last year, at 17:43.

Fairfield did not have another runner cross until eight place, but that was the first of three straight Mules and five of the next six. Jarrett Vaughan was eight in 21:17, while Nathan Legg was ninth and Ashton King was 10^th.

In the girls meet, Richland County won the team title with 26 points, three ahead of Fairfield. They were the only two teams to field enough runners for a team score.

Lady Tiger Mackenzi Thomas won the race with a meet record 22:36. Thomas was followed by a freshman who showed well in her first high school race. Remi Taylor followed at 23:10. Fairfield’s Ella Sager holds the course record at 21:07 but placed fifth with a 23:46 Saturday as she is battling shin splints in the early going.

Ellanie Vanway placed sixth and Adi Hickey was seventh.

Fairfield will run in the EIU Invitational Saturday in Charleston.

Tom Wickham Invitational

Girls

Team—Richland County 26, Fairfield 29.

Individual—1, Mackenzi Thomas, RC, 22:36. 2, Remi Taylor, F, 23:10. 3, Jocie Ginder, RC, 23:12. 4, Lily Stevens, RC, 23:34. 5, Ella Sager, F, 23:46. 6, Ellanie Vanway, F, 23:54. 7, Adi Hickey, F, 24:32. 9, Jaycie Couch, F, 25:12.

Boys

Team—Fairfield 36, Richland County 49, Hamilton County 72, Gallatin County 94, North Clay 113.

Individual—1, Grant Jennette, F, 18:51. 2, Kaeden Davis, RC, 19:28. 3, Braiden Respondek, GC, 20:20. 4, Zane Groves, NC, 20:25. 5, Caleb Prather, NCOE, 20:32. 8, Jarret Vaughan, F, 21:17. 9, Nathan Legg, F, 21:34. 10, Ashton King, F, 21:49. 12, Scotty Cuff, F, 22:04. 13, Skylar Bladel, F, 22:09. 14, Jack Gacek, F, 22:44. 16, Treyton Lewis, F, 22:46. 18, Holt Gilbert, F, 22:59.  21, Vance Vanway, F, 24:19. 26, Kanyen Lingafelter, F, 25:09.