Hornets cross country team takes fourth at Linn Invitational

LINN - Sophomore Mason Gaines and junior Tanner Steffen both medalled Saturday to help spur the Fulton Hornets cross country squad to a fourth-place finish out of 19 teams at the Linn Invitational.

Gaines came in sixth individually in 17 minutes, 52.83 seconds and Steffen was 14th in 18:32.17 as the Hornets compiled 126 points.

In the varsity girls' division, senior Rachel Quick placed 34th in 24:12.22 to guide the Lady Hornets to a 10th-place team finish (223 points) out of 13 teams.

"The team has been working really hard and I am so proud of their performances (Saturday)," Fulton head coach George Yates said. "The competition was really tough and I knew we would be in for a challenge, but the kids ran well and I am happy with the outcomes."

Also placing for the Hornets were sophomore Nathan Quick (26th, 18:58.79), junior Chaz Ballard (37th, 19:24.71), and sophomore Gabe Luebbert (46th, 19:36.24).

Other finishers for the Lady Hornets included sophomore Adrea Shadbolt (52nd, 24:56.13), junior Katie Lowry (67th, 25:50.32), freshman Eryn Jones (68th, 25:53.44), and freshman Anna Bonderer (92nd, 27:43.71).

In the junior varsity boys' race, junior Jared Eliuk, senior Luke Lohmeyer, junior Sabin Cassidy and freshman Brock Fisher were all medalists as the Hornets took second out of seven teams.

Eliuk was ninth in 20:40.78, Lohmeyer came in 16th in 21:03.04, Cassidy took 17th in 21:13.41, and Fisher finished 20th in 21:23.04. Freshman Zechariah Schwinke also placed 21st in 21:34.02.

The Hornets and Lady Hornets host their 30th-annual Fulton Invitational starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the high school athletic complex.