Fatima showed considerable progress Saturday at the Gans Creek Classic, with the Lady Comets placing sixth in the Blue Division and every girl posting her best time of the season.

Brie Massman led the high school girls with a ninth-place finish in 19:54.5, followed by Lexi Massman (30, 20:38.8), Melissa Verslues (52, 21:18.4), Avery Berhorst (146, 23:34.7), Karly Bock (160, 24:01.3), Zoey Wilbers (197, 25:09.4), Rose Backes (216, 26:02.4), and Journey Markway (252, 28:57.2).

“Our girls ran very well with everyone running their best times of the year,” said Fatima coach Marc Bridges. “Our girls that ran on the Gans Creek course two weeks ago averaged 55 seconds faster this time around. All of the girls did a great job, and we are beginning to race the way we want as we enter the second half of the season.”

The Fatima boys placed 22nd in the Blue Division, led by Michael Gabelsberger (19, 16:46.6), followed by Zack Eisterhold (127, 18:24.9), Evan Kampeter (129, 18:27.2), Trenton Orscheln (134, 18:29.7), Austin Woehr (160, 18:47.8), Wyatt Kolb (223, 19:40.3), Tucker Schroeder (238, 19:55.8), and Conner Peters (262, 20:21.1).

“Like the girls, the boys were much faster than two weeks ago on the same course, averaging 50 seconds faster this go around,” Bridges said. “We were able to get seniors Zack Eisterhold and Trenton Orscheln back from injury this week, bringing our score and our 1-5 average down.”

Bridges said the Comets are also looking forward to getting two more runners back in the lineup.

“We look forward to the return of Wyatt Dake and Brady Horton in the next couple of weeks as we start making our postseason push,” he said. “The boys have done a good job of working hard and being patient as things come together for a postseason run.”

Fatima’s junior high runners collected four medals last Wednesday at the Belle Invitational. Harper Moeller led the girls (11, 14:56), followed by Violet Backes (19, 15:25). Both earned medals.

“Harper and Violet ran a nearly even-paced race, with their second mile nearly identical to their first,” Bridges said. “Both girls showed a lot of race maturity holding strong paces and moving up through the field.”

For the junior high boys, Brenden Helton led Fatima (11, 12:57), followed by Bane Schaben (20, 13:22) and TJ Lange (83, 16:53). Helton and Schaben earned medals.

“Brenden got out fast and established a top position early, while Bane and TJ ran a more controlled race, using the second half to improve their position,” Bridges said.

Fatima will close its junior high season Thursday at Camdenton.