By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

WAMEGO -- Since Monday, Thomas More Prep-Marian freshmen Heather Ruder and Allison Pfeifer had constant reminders about the Class 3A state cross country meet Saturday afternoon. During religion class Friday, Pfeifer reminded Ruder, "24 hours until we run."

"Both were really nervous," Ruder said. "We were talking about it all week, like oh my gosh, it's state this weekend. It was all about state."

The Monarchs had no runner with state experience, save junior Hayley Taylor, but shook off the jitters and nerves and completed a strong season. Ruder ran 15 minutes, 46.61 seconds and finished second to Ellinwood's Jenna Snell (15:38.19).

"She ran a heckuva race," fourth-year head coach Matt Dumler said.

Pfeifer earned all-state honors with 15th place (16:58.38).

"I was pleased," Pfeifer said. "It was a lot more competitive than anything we ever really experienced this year. But I was pleased. I knew I was drained. I was tired."

The Monarchs finished tied for third with Norton and the final team trophy. However, Norton's sixth runner broke the 127-127 tie and provided the Bluejays, led by freshman and 14th place finisher Regan Simpson, with the plaque. The Monarchs' fourth place showing was the best ever by a girls' cross country team at TMP-Marian.

"All of the girls ran well,"Dumler said. "Heather is close, hopefully next year she can move up a place. Can't complain about the way any of the girls ran. The team finished well. Pretty happy with the day."

In addition, freshman Anne Mindrup was 36th (17:39.82), Taylor finished 53rd (18:08), senior Kalee Kirmer was 75th (19:14) and senior Emily Volker was 85th (20:06).

"They came in right where we wanted to have them for us to have a chance at getting a trophy," Dumler said of his 3-4-5 runners. "They ran like we thought they could. They ran very well."

Ruder finished every race in the top-3, including two victories and regional and state runner-up to Snell. Ruder and Snell ran neck-and-neck for most of the race and Ruder took a slight lead on the backside hill. Snell moved into first with about 800 meters left.

"We got to the top of the hill and then she would get in front of me and then I would speed up," Ruder said. "Then she just kind of sprinted down and I didn't catch up to her again."

"We thought we might be able to get her on the hills," Dumler said.

The Monarchs, led by the three freshmen, marked the first boys' or girls' team to qualify for state as a team in Dumler's four years. According to Dumler's research, TMP-Marian girls teams reached state in 1983, 1994, 1995 and 1996. TMP-Marian finished second at the regional to Ellinwood and entered state with a chance at a team trophy.

"You don't know what to expect," Ruder said. "We were really nervous."

When the team arrived in Wamego on Friday, the freshmen and seniors stayed in different rooms. However, the Monarchs went to dinner and watched TV together.

"I think it helped our nerves to be together before we ran," Ruder said. "When you are at your home, you tend to think about it more. But when you are together, we just talk to each other and prepare each other and help each other."

As race time approached, Dumler noticed a change in his squad.

"It was kind of a little joking around," he said. "As it started to get closer, they started to tense up a little bit. By the time we got over here, it was like, 'can we turn around, can we turn around? No, we are going to go run.' "

Entering the race, Dumler believed the Monarchs could at least finish top 6, possibly in the top 3 for a team trophy. Ruder was expected to contend for the individual crown.

On the course, Ruder and Pfeifer were used to running up front in smaller races. Neither one had been in a race with so many runners. At the halfway point, Ruder ran in a close five-person pack. Pfeifer was ninth and led another pack.

"It was really claustrophobic at the beginning because there were so many people around you," Ruder said.

"Once we got to the hills it wasn't bad because it opened up a little bit," Pfeifer said. "But in that tunnel of people, I was (squished)."

Ruder still earned the runner-up finish to Snell, the only 3A runner to beat Ruder all season. Pfeifer, whose state showing was the lone meet she was outside the top six, helped complete a strong year for the young Monarchs.

"It's really cool knowing that you are one of the top 20 runners in your division," Pfeifer said.

"It's kind of weird knowing (that). You don't really expect it since you just came out of middle school. It's like, 'wow, this is it. This is the real competition.' It's great to have coaches prepare us for this and get us there."