By MATT GOLDBERG
Herald-Whig Sports Writer
Amanda Darnell wanted to come out and give it her all for three miles on Tuesday at South Park.
Quincy Notre Dame coach Andy Edgar shared some wisdom with his senior runner going into her first meet of the season.
"One of the things we said was, 'You haven't really run against competition and so just go out, hang back right now and see what kind of pace it is. If you can hang with it -- great. If you can't, then so be it. But don't make a tactical mistake this early -- it's not worth it.'"
Listening to her coach was.
Darnell (19 minutes, 26 seconds) edged Hannibal's Emma Burditt (19:32), the defending race champion, by six seconds in the seventh annual QND Running Raider Invitational.
Following Edgar's orders to a tee, it was Burditt -- not Darnell -- that led a majority of the race.
The Hannibal sophomore estimated Darnell took the lead for good with 400 meters left.
"Most of the race I was leading her," Burditt said. "She was just kind of feeding off of me, which is pretty smart. ... I knew she was probably gonna do it. I just ran my race how I needed to and she just ran a better race and outkicked me."
It was a special victory for Darnell, who had never won the Running Raider prior to Tuesday. Last season she finished with a 19:57, 25 seconds behind Burditt (19:32).
"My plan was to go out and stick with the lead pack," Darnell said. "I stuck right behind (Burditt) for a really long time and tried to mentally wear her out. And I was pretty successful at it."
Darnell finished the course faster than any female not named Katelyn Bastert. The former Carthage and current Duke University standout's slowest time was the 18:38 she ran in 2005.
Another QND athlete, junior Ashley Strieker (20:30), also impressed by finishing third.
"She's right on pace from last year," Edgar said. "And she's been battling back from injuries. So for both of them to be right on pace or better than last year, those two (Darnell and Strieker) are cooking. I'm excited."
Quincy High School's Kala Griffin (20:53) placed sixth, Illini West's Natalie Northrup (20:57) finished seventh, Hannibal junior Julia Collins (21:19) placed eighth and South Shelby junior Jill Barry (21:21) earned ninth.
On the boys side, Mexico's Hayden Legg (16:18) beat Hannibal's Bryson Jarman (16:43) by 25 seconds to win his second Running Raider title in three years. Last year he finished second to former Quincy High School runner Marc Amarillas.
It's Jarman's best finish at the meet, and best time of the season.
"I kind of just let (Legg) go at the beginning and ran my own race," Jarman said. "I wasn't really too -- I was worried about it -- but I just had to run my own race today. ... I kind of went out a little slower and just worked my way up to the top. I just took my time -- (kept) an even pace."
QHS senior Nathan Elder (17:37) was also pleased with his finish -- even though it was eight spots behind Jarman in 10th. That finish helped the first-year cross country runner earn his first medal in the sport.
"And this is a tough course, so it was tough to fight through it but I'm happy," Elder said. "I'm pleased. Me and 'Miah (Jeremiah Henaifesh) stayed with it and I thought we did good as a team."
Elder was on the Blue Devils' 1,600-meter relay team that made the IHSA state meet in the spring. But not making it to the state finals has Elder working harder than ever.
"I just decided to (run cross country) just to keep in shape," Elder said. "... We didn't get past the first day (at state track this past spring) and I know this year our goal is to place -- and place high. Staying in shape and getting ready for track season is really what it's all about. For me anyways."
Bowling Green (84) won the boys race and Hannibal (86) finished second. QHS (144) finished fourth behind Mexico (88).
Moberly (61) won the girls race, followed by Monmouth-Roseville (93), QND (118), Marion County (152) and QHS (152).
-- mgoldberg@whig.com / 221-3367
