By RYAN RICHTER

Staff writer

With Mother Nature being a formidable opponent for the Trojan cross-country team, it showed no signs of being rusty despite not competing in over a week with the Sept. 8 meet washed out.

The Trojans returned to action Sept. 13, competing at Herington, with all of coach Kodi Panzer’s runners bettering their times from the first meet.

“We’re hitting our goals and improving each meet,” Panzer said. “Everyone ran faster than our first meet and some even turned in personal bests in their careers.”

So far, this season has shown what’s on the horizon for Trojan cross country.

And it looks bright.

Only a seventh grader, Levi Allen has yet to taste defeat.

It wasn’t even close Thursday with Allen beating Remington runner-up Andrew Peters by nearly a minute in 12:11.

The eighth grade girls are loaded with the trio of Moriah Jost, Ainsley Duell, and Karley Loewen.

Jost joined Allen as the Trojans’ only champions on the day, topping the 8-runner field in 14:59.

Five-hundredths of a second proved to be the difference in Jost edging Hesston runner-up Alyssa Fuqua.

Duell finished fourth at 15:37 and Loewen sixth in 18:16.

Ninth-place Josh Diener was Hillsboro’s lone competitor for the eighth grade, finishing in 16:49.

In varsity competition, Caleb Diener and Emersyn Funk secured top 10 finishes for both boys and girls.

Diener completed the course in 18:48 for eighth with Funk taking fifth in 19:34.

Due to Funk and Millie Sechrist being Panzer’s only two varsity competitors, the Trojans were unable to compete as a team.

Sechrist rounded out the top 15 in 24:54.

Also in action in the 38-competitor boys’ class were Tucker Moss, Caleb Kliewer, Jason Latham, Orin Blecha, and Nathan Lopez.

Moss was in the top 30 at 23rd in 18:48 and Kliewer barely missed at 31st in 25:15.

The Trojans take to the road Sept. 27 for a meet at Berean Academy in Elbing.

Results of Tuesday’s action were unavailable at time of publication.