With respective team scores of 29 and 42, the Cardinals continued to build momentum in what was the team’s second-to-last meet of the season.

“Across the board, I’d say that was the best-case scenario,” Moeller said. “I for sure knew the boys had a chance at winning it, and having such a commanding win was awesome to see. On the girls side, on paper coming into it, we were fifth, so I looked at that and didn’t believe it, and knew that we would be top two, and on a perfect day, we could win, and that’s what happened today.”

The girls team began the afternoon with a handful of top-ten finishes. Sophomore Brooklyn Stone (22:45.2) led the charge with a fifth-place finish, while eighth-grader Delaney Klug (23:00.9) and sophomore Avery Steuber (24:29.6) were not too far behind at seventh and 10th, respectively.

Senior Kendra Blomster (25:06.7) and freshman Natalie Griffey (25:14.5) found themselves neck-and-neck at the end line after picking up 15th and 16th-place finishes of their own.

Fairmont sophomore Brooklyn Stone makes her final turn at Cedar Creek Park on Thursday afternoon in the I-90 Invitational.

Rounding off the top seven were junior Feven Hoyer (25:40.9) and eighth grader Addison Lintelman (25:44.7), who placed 19th and 21st.

“They just knew they could get things done before the race,” Moeller said. “I told them before that ‘I’ve seen crazier things happen.’ Just given that confidence and knowing that every point matters in this course.”

The boys finished things off in the early evening with a plethora of top scores from the lineup. Eighth grader Cole Hanson (17:55.3) and senior Cooper Gudahl (18:00.5) ran past the finish line in second and third place behind St. James’ Andrei Rivera.

Sophomore Devin Hanson (18:34.9) was two places below in fifth, with freshman Holden Junkermeier (19:20.4) trailing not too far behind in seventh.

Sophomore Michael Hamlet (20:20.0) and juniors Jonas Krist (21:13.2) and Leon Yang (21:13.6) finished off the top seven scorers for Fairmont, placing 12th, 22nc, and 23rd.

“Finally starting to see things click on the boys’ side,” Moeller said. “Everybody, for the most part, has that day when they need it. Saw some really big-time performances. Some big-time firsts there. Some guys, it was their first time getting a varsity medal, some guys running the kind of time they did. Definitely moving in the right direction.”

Fairmont will wrap up the regular season at the Jordan XC Invitational on Tuesday, Oct 14, in Jordan. Races are set to begin at 4 p.m.