By MICHAEL BOYLAN
Sports Editor

Eight members of the Fayette Flash track team made their mark recently at the USATF National Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, S.C.

Kirsten Pretzer survived two falls in her run to finish 121st in the Bantam Girls division with a time of 13:48.33 for the 3,000-meter course, and Melissa Anderson led the midget girls team to an 18th place finish in the team championship. Anderson ran her best time of the year with a 17:08.9 for the 4,000-meter course, finishing 113th overall.

Catie Phillips finished 194th with a time of 20:06.04. Jessica Weaver, Heather Bowman, Lisa Meeder and Kathleen Richards rounded out the only Flash team to make it to the finals.

Ben Brantly ran with the leaders in the Youth Boys race for the first mile, clocking a 4:59 along the way. This pace took its toll however, as Brantly eventually finished 100th with a time of 14:29.26 for the 4,000-meter course.

Coaches Bill Anderson and David Leonard were pleased with the Flash's season. In only the third year of the program, 47 boys and girls signed up to run.

The team is a feeder program for the local high school cross country programs, with several former athletes competing at a high level for Starr's Mill, Sandy Creek and McIntosh.

The eight members of the team that ran in the nationals gained invaluable experience and now know what competing on a national level is all about, said the coaches.

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