Katie Fankhouser roared to victory.
Katie Fankhouser ran beside her teammate Quin Gregg through the opening mile in 6:16. Fankhouser's eyes occasionally glanced up, far up, where the leaders were just over 60 meters ahead. Her braided ponytail swayed with the rhythm of her loose stride.
Gregg ran in sync with her teammate, eyes caste down, arms mechanically moving in a steady cadence that mimicked her stride.
It was a common site for anyone who has seen the Lyons duo raced before. Fankhouser and Gregg. Gregg and Fankhouser.
And while Lucca Fulkerson, and Chloe Veilleux were just over 10 seconds ahead of them, the Lyons duo maintained their pace. They had a lot of ground to make up over the final two miles, but they believed in the plan, and they raced on with a patience beyond their years. Like professional poker players, they held their cards very close to the chest.
Lucca Fulkerson and Chloe Veilleux battled through the early miles Saturday.
Fankhouser and Gregg ran with purposeful strides, and their patience was hinting at paying off over the second mile. They had closed the gap to just four seconds, and there was still that final, decisive mile to go.
Now was the time to attack.
With nothing by green lights in their path, Fankhouser and Gregg threw down the hammer and turned the tables on the field. They cruised by the early leaders, but Fankhouser wasn't done, not yet.
The junior defined the word grit as she powered across the creek one final time. Her cards were on the table now, and it was written all over her face. Fankhouser furiously pumped her fists into the air as she fought on in a battle where only she remained.
Behind her Gregg held on, doing what she had done all season long. The freshman ran according to the plan, and with only her teammate in front of her, it was evident that it was paying off.
Fankhouser stormed into the Norris Penrose Center and continued to push her red line. She ran as though winning were but a piece of the pie, and she wanted the whole thing, which included the satisfaction of knowing you truly pushed your limits.
Relentless is another word to best describe her final kick to the finish.
A massive Lyons-fanbase was in the stands and cheered her on as she captured the state title in 19:24. And then once more when Gregg came kicking into the stadium in the runner-up spot in 19:36. Fankhouser and Gregg just went 1-2 for Lyons, and took down two defending state champions in the process.
It was clear this would be a Lyons-Kind-Of-Day.
Behind them, the 2016 state champion Veilleux held on to finish third in 19:46, just over half a minute ahead of 2017 state champion Helen Cross, who finished fourth in 20:17.
Early leader, Fulkerson, battled through the final mile to hold on to a fifth place finish, crossing in 20:24, just ahead of a hard-charging Emma Dikken, who finished sixth in 20:29.
The second freshmen to cross the line, and the seventh runner overall, was Rye's Audrey Maroney, who finished in 20:49.
Rounding out the top 10 were Sophia Schuemann, Lisa Bezzant, and Kendra Sears, who ran 21:01, 21:02, and 21:03.
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