Cardinals cross country gears towards I-90
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FAIRMONT - The I-90 Invite always brings buzz to the Fairmont boys and girls cross country teams. For head coach Andrew Moeller, his staff, and certainly his athletes, it's always exciting to compete in an event that has been a staple of the Cardinals program.
This race means more than the pageantry and tradition it holds. With the Big South Conference and MSHSL Section 2AA Championship meets coming in just a few weeks, the I-90 Invite is a good measuring stick for how far Moeller's program is with postseason play around the corner.
"The Early Bird [Invite] is something to see what we have at the beginning of the year. This is one of the first times of the season where we truly see what we have," Moeller said. "I say that about a couple of different meets, but this is getting right before our postseasons, so you get a better grasp of what we're looking at in terms of who we have scoring in which position."
The Cardinals boys and girls teams swept last season's I-90 event. The boys blew past the likes of Worthington and St. James, while the girls edged Jackson County Central by four points. Moeller most definitely wants to see that same team success repeated. But the biggest thing he wants from his athletes is to take a chance. Leaving it all on the Cedar Creek Park trail.
"I think there is a good enough break between now and conference play where we can afford to put forward a really gutsy effort, making a big jump that maybe you didn't know was possible," Moeller said. "No matter what the team result is at the end. ...I'd rather see that right now than see them be conservative."
Hanson leads the way
Cole Hanson's first-place showing at the season opening Early Bird Invite has proved not to be a fluke. It wasn't a lightning-in-a-bottle instance, but a prelude to what has followed this fall campaign.
"I've been around him for a couple of years now and have always had an idea of what he was capable of," Moeller said. "But I can't say that there has ever been a time when he's fallen short of what I expected. He's just always exceeded standards, and those are very high standards for him too. It's really exciting to see him keep on doing that."
The freshman has continued stacking stellar races. Cole Hanson has placed first in three other competitions this year. His most impressive performance happened during September 10's Gerry Smith XC Invitational, where another first-place mark was topped with his personal best 5,000-meter time of 16:34.7.
With Cole Hanson consistently anchoring that top spot, brother Devin Hanson has helped lead the remaining depth on Moeller's roster.
Behind Devin Hanson, who's consistently been Fairmont's No. 2, Michael Hamlet and Holden Junkermeier have taken strides in building that needed depth. All four helped the Cardinals' first-place finish in last week's St. James Cross Country Invitational.
"Progressing is a good word for it," Moeller said. "Holden Junkermeier has been coming off an injury from last winter, and has been making big improvements each race after just continuing to get his fitness back. It's always nice putting a one at the top of your score because it feels as if you are basically scoring four people. And we still have a solid four behind Cole to round out that score."
A good problem to have
Depth has almost become a "good problem to have" for Moeller and the Fairmont girls. With the varsity roster shrinking to seven spots during the upcoming conference and section meets, Moeller's comfortable with nine or 10 individuals rounding out that final lineup.
"It wouldn't change a lot in the back end having any of them in there," Moeller said. "It makes it more difficult for me to be picking who is doing what when it comes to those postseason meets. But it gives you options and definitely shows the strength of the team."
At the front of Fairmont's lineup have been Brooklyn Stone and Sophia Streit. Stone was expected to be the Cardinals’ top runner after doing so the year prior. What wasn't expected is Streit's immediate impact during her first varsity season.
The two have consistently been Fairmont's No. 1 and No. 2 finishers in 2026. At the past few meets, such as the JCC Tri for Health and St. James Cross Country Invitational, mere seconds separated the two runners. Stone's first-place finish at Fairmont's last competition in St. James saw Streit finish one-tenth of a second behind.
"They've just done an incredible job working together these past few meets and have made for a really good one-two punch," Moeller said. "I'm really excited, as we get near these postseason meets, how they can work and keep on moving up together."
But the talent doesn't stop there. Addison Lintelman, Ellie Drever, Avery Steuber and Delany Klug are a few names on a long list of talent. Each has shown true flashes at one point or another.
A positive that Moeller sees is a constant shifting in finishers. Different names end up in different places at each meet. To Moeller, that doesn't necessarily mean someone had a bad day, but rather, another ran even better.
"You see some of that rotation happening, and it's good competition," Moeller said. "At times, especially right away, it can create some hard feelings when they've had a set order for so long. But it shows me that they are taking chances on themselves and are willing to push a little harder. ...I think that just fits everybody in the long run."