Liberty’s Darlyn Fermin and Stroudsburg’s Zach Landvik-Lanson may have been the only two runners happy with their race at last Wednesday’s cross country meet in Stroudsburg.

That’s because the quantity and quality of mud puddles on the Mounties’ course were numerous and deep.

“I got a good start,” said Fermin, who placed second in 17:35. “We always pre-run before a meet, so we knew where the muddy spots were at. I just tried to stay out of the mud as much as possible.”

At the same time, Fermin tried to stay with Landvik-Lanson, the meet’s winner in 17:00, but Landvik-Lanson pulled away in the second mile.

“I felt pretty good,” Fermin said. “I felt like I got a good time. I haven’t checked, though. There were a couple hills, but not like on our home course, so I was used to it.”

Stroudsburg took third, fourth, and fifth place with finishes by Andre Green in 18:02, Shu-Yu Chen in 18:17, and

Brayden Graham in 18:22.

Freedom’s Nick Bauer placed sixth in 18:36.

“It was like a marsh over there. Every step you took, your shoes were completely filled. I went slow and on the outside around those muddy portions, and I was sliding otherwise,” Bauer said. “Stroudsburg came to play today. They did great. There were these three kids in front of me, and no matter how hard I pushed, I could get up to them, but they would just run ahead.”

Next was Liberty’s Ryan Wycherley in seventh place in 18:36+.

“My foot would sink in a couple inches with every step. It was not good. It kind of put me in a negative mindset. It made me a lot slower than I would have wanted to,” said Wycherley. “I wanted to beat the third Stroudsburg kid, but I think four got in before me. I knew they would be good, but I didn’t think that many of them would be good.”

Stroudsburg’s William Marina placed eighth in 18:36+, and CJ Marina was ninth in 18:39, also for the Mounties. Freedom’s Josh Noel was 10th in 18:43.

Bethlehem Catholic’s Matt Millen finished 16th, first for the Hawks, in 19:22.

In team results, Liberty defeated East Stroudsburg South, 15-48, and East Stroudsburg North, 15-50, but lost to Stroudsburg, 38-20.

Freedom defeated East Stroudsburg South 19-41, and East Stroudsburg North, 15-50, but lost to Stroudsburg, 46-16.

Becahi defeated East Stroudsburg South, 26-31, and East Stroudsburg North, 15-50, but lost to Stroudsburg, 50-15.

“It’s hard to chalk it up to either good or bad,” said Bauer. “It was like trying to bail out of a ship with a teaspoon.”