RUNNING DOWN A DREAM
Badgers looking for top 10 finish at UTSA
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

PHOTO BY GABE WOLF Badger cross country from left: Todd Young, Michael Fisher, David Bloomfield, Brandon Willie, Andrew Griffin and Jonathan Lohmann.

After finally finishing ahead of Burnet to place second at the District 25-4A Meet two weeks ago, the Lampasas boys' cross country team will look to take it up another notch on Saturday.

That second-place finish qualified the team for the Region IV-4A Meet at the University of Texas-San Antonio. The Badgers are scheduled to toe the starting line at 1:30 p.m.

Without top runner Ryan Tedford, who head coach Trent Lancaster said will not compete because of a team rules violation, the Badgers will need improved times from each of the remaining six runners.

"Not having Ryan will make it difficult, but I'd just like to see all the kids improve their pace-permile and try to finish in the top 10 as a team," Lancaster said. "I've noticed in practice, especially with the younger kids, they're trying harder to hit their paces and working harder to compete well."

The loss of Tedford, who placed seventh at the district meet, moves sophomore Brandon Willie up to the top spot for Lampasas. Willie finished two spots behind Tedford at the district meet and is the only LHS runner to finish ahead of Tedford in a meet this season, which he did at the Battlin' Badger Cross Country Meet.

"I'm just hoping the team does as well as it can," Willie said. "It would be an honor to get to state as a team."

Junior David Bloomfield has been a consistent point scorer for the Badgers this year. He finished 18th at the district meet.

"I want to go out and beat my personal best and just have fun at the race," Bloomfield said.

"We want to try to avoid injuries with track season coming up and gain some experience for next year because we'll be shooting for state again next year."

Senior Andrew Griffin and freshman 22nd and 23rd, respectively, at the district meet. Griffin, who has battled foot and calf injuries all season, won't let those injuries hamper his effort on Saturday.

"You just hope the injuries have healed up as best they can," Griffin said.

"We've got one race left, and we've got to give everything we have left -- give it your all and hope for the best."

Junior Todd Young also is battling injuries. He finished 30th at the district meet but a pulled calf muscle has limited the number of workouts he can complete.

"If I'm still having problems with the leg on Saturday, I'll run anyway," Young said. "It's a team effort, and I'll do whatever I have to do."

Sophomore Michael Fisher finished 40th at the district meet and is relatively healthy. He will focus on the mental aspects of the meet, knowing he has two more opportunities in his high school career to compete at a regional.

"It's a bunch of pressure since it's a regional meet, and I'm sure a lot of guys will have some butterflies," Fisher said. "I'll just try to keep calm and know that if I do my best to help my teammates, they'll know it."