Fairmont Recap: Emma Bucher Runs Away From Field In Debut

The Fairmont XC Invitational this past weekend was meet #2 for the GWOC only series. The meet was hosted at the Kettering Fairmont course, which is widely known for the large man-made hill featured at both the mile and 2 mile markers. This race format was also unique with the junior/senior and freshman/sophomore athletes racing separately.

The morning started off with the women's junior/senior race where the senior from Centerville, Emma Bucher, made her 2020 XC debut. Finishing with a time of 19:25.60, Bucher secured her first win of the season with a dominant lead over the Beavercreek junior, Samantha Thomas, who would finish as runner-up. The junior/senior boys race was taken by the Beavercreek senior, Connor Ewert, for his 3rd consecutive win of the season and a time of 16:03.30. He was followed by his fellow senior, Ryan Massie, in a time of 16:44.0.

Following the upperclassmen, Mia Robillard led off the freshman/sophomore ladies race securing a winning time of 19:18.70 with a 24 second gap over Springboro's sophomore, Cara Mooney, with a time of 19:42.90. On the boy's side, a pack of 3 sophomores from Beavercreek who were battling it out through the first mile. Ethan Johnson emerged as the leader in the second mile and he eventually finished with his first career win in a time of 17:24.50. He was followed by his teammates Tyler Fecher and Nate Massie with times of 17:41.90 and 17:42.50, respectively.