Thompson, Saari CC MVPs

FAIRMONT — Fairmont head cross country coach Bob Bonk announced the annual cross country awards Tuesday.

Laura Thompson and Will Saari were named the Cardinals Most Valuable Runners for the 2019 season.

Eleanor Hamlet and Tyrell Zieske took home the honors for the most improved competitors.

Hannah Neusch and Connor Artner earned the hardest worker plaques.

Macy Hanson and Will Niestrath were named rookies of the year.

Tony Ortega was awarded the spirit of cross country plaque for the 2019 season.

Thompson also earned academic All-State honors, while the girls team earned an Academic Gold Award for having a team GPA above 3.75.

This season, the Cardinal girls finished 11th at state, third out of 39 Class A teams at the Milaca Mega Meet and finished second in the Section 2A meet.

The girls ended the season with 139 wins and 32 losses.

The Cardinal boys placed sixth at the Section 2A meet and ended with 94 wins and 50 losses.

Thompson (18:53) ran the fastest 5K time in school history, while Hanson (19:10) also beat the school’s previous record, placing her second all time.

Thompson earned her second All-State finish, while Hanson and Saari both qualified for state as individuals.

Area spikers net honors

FAIRMONT — The Big South Conference and Top of Iowa Conference released their 2019 All-Conference selections for the 2019 season Tuesday.

Fairmont’s senior middle hitter Cambrie Anderson and Blue Earth Area’s freshman libero Eloise Blair each earned their first Big South Conference selections when they made the first team in the Big South Conference East Division.

The Cardinals’ junior setter Sabrina Segar earned honorable-mention honors.

North Union’s senior hitter Chloe Lofstrom earned a spot on the honorable-mention list for the Top of Iowa Conference West Division.