Warsaw freshman Allison Miller crosses the finish line Saturday to win the Open Division race at the Culver Academies Invitational. Miller led the Tigers to the team championship (Photos by Tim Creason)

CULVER – The Warsaw girls cross country team turned in a championship performance Saturday.

Freshman Allison Miller of the Tigers turned in some kind of performance of her own along the way.

Miller cruised to a dominating first-place finish Saturday in the Girls’ Open race at the prestigious and talent-laden Culver Academies Invitational.

Miller covered the fast course at the Academy on a warm day in a top time of 19:22.

Coach Scott Erba’s team claimed the team title among 21 teams in the Girls’ Open Division with a team score of 69. Pike was a distant second at 122 with Wawasee third.

The championship at the monster meet, which included more than 4,000 high school and middle school runners, was the first in program history for the Warsaw ladies.

“I knew there were some girls I would have to race,” said Miller to reporter Tim Creason of the LaPorte Herald-Argus following her victory. “I knew I had a chance, but I wasn’t positive it was going to happen. I’m very pumped.

“I was really surprised. I thought I was going to have a tough race, I knew I would, because there are really good competitors. I know I had to take it out strong because I’m not so great a finisher.

“I was happy, but I keep tying my PR. It’s frustrating when I keep hitting that 19:20.”

Brooke Rhodes hits the finish line for Warsaw Saturday.

The Tigers also got outstanding performances from Hannah Dawson and Brooke Rhodes. Dawson placed fourth in a time of 20:05 with Rhodes right behind her in fifth place at 20:06.

“Looking at the meet and seeing who was in the open division, we feel pretty good about it,” Warsaw coach Scott Erba told Creason about the team title.

“As an eighth grader, Allison won the middle school race here last year. She’s been running very well for us last year. Last week (at New Prairie) she got a little more confidence about being able to run up with the better runners. She’s got a good boost going into the post-season.”

Miller was very happy to see her teammates cross the finish line right behind her too.

“It was awesome,” remarked Miller. “I was so pumped. I knew they were right with me and I was like, ‘Yes! Keep it up!’  I was super excited.”

Aletheia Burritt was 28th overall for Warsaw in a time of 21:13. Maddie Hooks placed 31st in 21:21, followed by teammates Claire Kehler in 37th (21:33), Charlene Orr in 44th (21:43), Hannah Thompson in 46th (21:47), Emma Hayward in 53rd  (21:55) and Emma Lemon in 73rd (22:24).

Dawson and Hayward each posted season-best times Saturday.

Mallory Hooks was the top finisher in the Reserve Race for Warsaw, taking 90th place in a time of 22:26.

Ellie Bearss was next for Warsaw in 100th with a time of 22:31. Michaela Roark placed 143rd in 23:06, followed by Courtney Sainer in 177th (23:33), Alexis Himes in 221st (24:07), Jessica Madden in 230th (24:14), Alexis Winters in 292nd (25:01), Courtney Etchison in 333rd (25:43), Daisie Poe in 358th (26:09), Lauren Brown in 380th (26:40), Shyanne McFadden in 405th (27:04) and Emma Lehman in 474th (29:16).

Bearss had a season-best performance for Warsaw and McFadden notched a personal-best time Saturday.

Warsaw will finish out the regular season Tuesday evening versus host Concord and Plymouth in NLC action at Ox Bow Park.  The Tigers, who are 4-1 in league competition, can clinch second place with a pair of wins. The NLC Meet is then set for Saturday (Oct. 5) back at Ox Bow Park.

Warsaw’s Brooke Rhodes (1334) and Hannah Dawson (1316) run with Bre Robinson (1350) and Courtney Linnemeier (1346) of Wawasee Saturday. Warsaw won the team championship and Wawasee placed third.