Warsaw freshman Allison Miller runs beside Kailee Schoof of LaPorte. Miller was the top finisher for the Tigers at the State Finals (Photos by Scott Davidson)

TERRE HAUTE – Warsaw girls cross country coach Scott Erba was already planning for the future Saturday.

Erba had his team firmly focused on the awards podium after competing in the State Finals.

The No. 17 Tigers, who placed 21st in the 33rd annual event held at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course, are slated to return their top four runners next season from Saturday’s lineup.

“I want our girls to watch the awards and think about their goals for next year,” said Erba, whose team was making its third straight trip to State. “This hits home and is a powerful tool to plan in their minds to watch the teams go up on the podium.

“To make it back here again is a great achievement by these girls. There’s no doubt about that. I just want us to up our expectations for next year. With our four top girls from today back, that’s a good thing.”

“We have girls now with a year or two experience competing here. That should be a big thing for us when we race this course in 2014 and 2015.”

Senior Aletheia Burritt turned in a strong performance for Warsaw.

Warsaw freshman Allison Miller led the way again Saturday. She was 50th overall in a time of 19:15.3.

“She had an outstanding race today, a pr for her,” said Erba of his outstanding ninth grader. “This is a tough course here and Allison ran a smart race. She hung in there well and finished strong.”

The No. 17 Tigers posted a team score of 503.

Sophomore Brooke Rhodes was the second Tiger to hit the finish line. She was 128th overall in the field in a time of 20:19.8. Sophomore Hannah Dawson placed 155th overall in a time of 20:46.3, followed by sophomore Emma Hayward in 163rd (20:50.6), senior Madeline Hooks in 181st (21:13.3), senior Aletheia Burritt in 183rd (21:17.5) and sophomore Claire Kehler in 197th (21:47.2).

Sophomore Emma Hayward  was the third finisher for the Tigers Saturday.

“Emma had a good race today and Aletheia had one of her better ones too,” said Erba.

Penn junior Maddie Woods was the top area finisher with a sixth-place performance in a time of 18:09.5.

Carmel senior Kelcy Welch won the girls’ race over the 5,000-meter course in a top time of 17:53.9.

Penn was sixth in the final team standings with a score of 171. Northridge, led by sophomore Morgan Blyly, was 16th with a score of 398.

No. 1 Carmel won its fourth straight team championship Saturday with a score of 76, far ahead of runner-up Hamilton Southeastern (122).

Madeline Hooks capped her senior season at State Saturday.

Warsaw put together another outstanding season with a much different look from a year ago when the team was 19th at State. The Tigers did it with a pack it up mentality after graduating star Ashley Erba, who was the state champion in 2011 and runner-up in 2012. Warsaw also lost standout Sarah Ray to graduation, the team’s No. 2 runner a year ago.

The Tigers won sectional and regional championships before a fourth-place finish at the semi state.

“We knew it was going to be a different type of team for us this year,” said Erba. “I’m really pleased to see how well they worked together as a team this season. They were a close knit team.

“The girls got better as a team as the season went. They got more confident and that was a big thing for us.”

Sophomore Brooke Rhodes was second for Warsaw at State on Saturday.