Elliot Fenske successfully defended his individual title and the first five Tiger runners all finished in the top 21 as Farmington finished runner-up in the nine-team New Prague Invitational held Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the New Prague Golf Course.
Host New Prague won the meet with a low team total of 49 points. Farmington finished with 63, Belle Plaine 66, LeSueur-Henderson 76, Norwood-Young America 153, Montgomery 176, Mankato Loyola 197, St. Peter 207 and Cannon Falls 238.
Fenske, coming off a good showing at the previous Saturday's Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, toured the 5000-meter course in 16:47 to repeat as meet champion. The Tiger senior clocked 17:10 to win the race last year.
Carl Elmer (18:30) and Ben Olson (18:37) finished 10th and 12th respectively while Adam Wallenta(18:58) and Dan Block (19:02) posted 19th and 21st place finishes. Alec Wilson (40th; 19:59), returning from a recent illness, and Lincoln Kirchoff (45th; 20:04), suffering from leg cramps, were the other finishers for the Tigers.
"It was good to see Elliot repeat as champion," coach Keith Revels said. "If we had been able to field a healthy lineup, I think we would have given New Prague a better run for first place. That's how it goes sometimes."
The Tigers did even better in the junior varsity race, winning the team title and placing three runners in the top five. Josh Ruthenbeck won the race while Caleb Eiffert and Justin Rees finished third and fourth respectively.
