Fairchild Is Queen of The Hill

On Morley Field’s cross-country course, site of Saturday’s Kinney National high school championships, there is one obstacle that runners find particularly bearish--the Pershing Avenue hill.

It’s otherwise known as The Hill.

The Hill is a steep incline up a dirt portion of the course that continues for a full city block. It usually weeds out the also-rans. No one ever kicks on the hill; it usually works the other way around, and the hill kicks them.

At least that’s the way it was until Saturday, when Melody Fairchild, a slight 5-foot-2, 95-pound junior from Boulder, Colo., decided The Hill was her ally.

Fairchild, who hung back from the lead pack in the early going of the girls’ race, made her move at the bottom of The Hill and overtook the early pace-setters at the top. She went on to win in 17 minutes 05.5 seconds, more than seven seconds faster than second-place Megan Thompson of Florissant, Mo. (17:12.7).

“I love hills,” Fairchild said after catching her breath. “I’m proud that I live in Boulder, Colo., which is known for hills. I like to think hills are my strong point.”

Well, she at least convinced Thompson, who wasn’t so sure of Fairchild’s running ability going into the race.

“I’ve never seen anyone who doesn’t look like a runner run like Melody did today,” Thompson said. “Runners are tall and lanky, she’s so short. But she has so much power in her legs . . . she amazes me.”

Fairchild has heard it all before but insists height is not a prerequisite to running successfully.

“I’m determined to prove that size doesn’t make a difference,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how long your legs are but how big your heart is.”

It was Fairchild’s second appearance at the Kinney. Last year, she finished second to Celeste Susnis of Wheatfield, Ind. This year, Susnis, a senior, placed fifth at 17:39.2 behind Carole Zajac of Pittsburgh, Pa. (17:22.9) and Sarah Schwald of Spokane, Wash. (17:35.3).