Linn ran to a 51-point, second-place finish at last Wednesday’s Show-Me Conference cross-country meet at Westphalia. Fatima won the meet with 20 points.

“The conference meet is small but provides great competition for our runners,” said Coach Robyn Baker. “They also competed against runners they have seen regularly, so it’s a fun meet.”

There were some nerves before the race as Fatima’s course is known for its big hill. “This group of girls is fun to coach and get excited for a race,” said Baker. “They were a little nervous but encouraged each other, and I love to see that in a team.”

Reagan Klouzek aimed to get All-Conference, and she started the race with that in mind. She had a great start and tried to stay close to the lead runner. “We have been focusing on staying strong up hills, and Reagan did a great job at that this race,” said Baker. “It helped her to a third-place finish (23:29) and medal.”

Ramsie Tschappler earned All-Conference last year and did so again this year with a fifth-place run of 24:22. “She also had a great start and stayed strong in the back part of the course up the hill,” said Baker.

Hope Wolfe was competing in her first conference race and started well. She lost some ground in the middle of the race and had trouble getting back to the top 10, but overall, she ran well and is getting stronger each time. Wolfe earned 14th in 26:44.

Kylie Messenger battled back from a slow start to finish 19th in 27:17. “I think if she had another half-mile, she could have made up even more ground,” said Baker. “However, she had a great race on the hill and pushed her way up it. Her next race at Fatima will be better yet.”

Elyse Brandt (24, 29:34) might be the runner who likes a good hill. “She did a great job powering up the hill both times and was able to get past a few runners in the process,” Baker noted.

Emerson Bowser did a good job sticking close to Brandt and increasing her pace as she finished 26th in 30:33.

“As we near the end of the season, we will keep working with her to push herself a little more to stay up in the middle of the pack,” said Baker.

Vidella Loughridge (31, 44:46) was running her second race of the season and picked a good one. “She was incredibly nervous about this meet, but her mindset changed throughout the race to one of determination, and we as coaches were glad to see that change,” Baker said.

After a discussion, it was decided that Reid Baker (4, 23:25) would run in the junior varsity race. “That turned out to be a good decision, and Reid had a great race,” said Coach Baker. “He took out with the front of the pack and didn’t ever leave them. He maintained a nice pace to earn a fourth-place finish and an All-Conference medal. This was a good confidence builder for him and will serve him well in the next race.

Linn’s middle school runners let some ideas from others about the course get to them just a bit at the beginning of the race because of the big hill.

“Shayla Burnett (7, 15:50) was very nervous, but she also had a goal to get All-Conference, and that goal pushed right past the nerves,” said Baker. “She is becoming a strong runner and used that strength to maintain seventh place through most of the race.”

Ava Franken (20, 19:38) struggled physically, but she pushed through and ran a nice race. “She started well and built up her endurance to hold that pace through the entire race,” Baker noted.

In the JH boys’ race, Isaiah Franken had a photo finish, earning 17th in 14:49. “He battled with another through most of the race, and although he didn’t quite get him in the end, it set the tone for a good race,” said Baker.

Huck Goss is just hitting his stride and had a nice race at Fatima, earning 23rd in 17:04. “We need to keep working on how he starts the race, as that will help move him up with the pack, but I am proud of how hard he worked at the conference meet,” said Baker.