X-Country: Tigers do Duluth

Justin Hyytinen

The Tigers took their act up north Saturday with an appearance at the Swain Invitational at Enger Park in Duluth.

Farmington finished 12th among 25 teams in the girls race while the Tiger boys ranked 22nd in a 26-team field.

Forest Lake, Totino Grace and Visitation finished 1-2-3 in the girls competition; Totino Grace, Minneapolis Southwest and St. Michael-Albertville topped the boys standings.

A rugged, hilly course made even more challenging by rainy and windy conditions combined to keep individual times on the high side.

Justin Hyytinen provided the biggest Tiger highlight of the meet, finishing fourth among more than 170 runners in the boy's race with a 16:42 clocking over the tough 5000-meter course.

Five of the six other Tiger runners were relative newcomers as regulars Alex Hat, Devon Webb, Hunter Sevenich and Sean Dougherty took the day off after running three races in eight days.

Veteran Matt Anderson was the second Farmington finisher, placing 118th in 19:13. Other varsity places and times included Peyton Woller 140th, 19:52; Jackson Schneider 144th, 20:05; Derek Cole, 153rd, 20:05; Josh Grimm 154th, 20:40 and Zach Teiken 155th, 20:47.

"The weather conditions weren't ideal," coach Lisa Lippold said, "so we talked to the boys about approaching this meet as if it were the conference or section and we had to run in them. It was a good practice in mental toughness."

Sofia Chadwick

On the girls side of the ledger, Lauren Peterson and Maricia Pacheco continued to lead the Tigers. Peterson finished 13th overall in 16:09 and Pacheco checked in at 21st in 16:42 over the 4000-meter route. A total of 168 runners ran in the race.

Sofia Chadwick took the No. 3 spot on the Tiger stat sheet with a 94th place finish in 18:19. Sami Hyytinen ranked 95th in 18:19.2; Emma Schaffer 98th in 18:21; Anna Palodichuk 99th on 18:22 and Maricella Pacheco 102nd in 18:23.

"Given the windy and wet conditions, the hills and the muddy trail, our times were not the best," coach Heidi Revels said. "But what a great experience for the team.

"Heading into the conference and section in the next couple of weeks, the weather can be quite similar and now they know they can do it." 

Tuesday the Tiger boys run closer to home when they compete in the Shakopee Invitational. Next Tuesday the Missota Conference Championships for both teams will be held at Cedar Farms in New Prague.