Aubrey Kuhn and her Wawasee teammates should be well-acquainted with the OxBow cross country course ahead of this Saturday’s Elkhart Central Sectional. (Photo by Mike Deak)

CULVER – It’s been a fast season, and the road to state will lead runners to turn up the speed even more.

Cross country teams around the state have Saturday circled in red Sharpie as the sectional championships will open. Our area schools will run at three different sites – Warsaw, Tippecanoe Valley, Triton and LCA, all at Culver Academy; Wawasee at OxBow Park for Elkhart Central; and Whitko at Fort Wayne Northrop.

Warsaw is the defending champion in both boys and girls at Culver, not just at the sectional, but last year’s regional as well. The Tigers are looking prime for a repeat run as well this year, with both teams sweeping through the Northern Lakes Conference seasons on both sides, including championships at last week’s NLCs.

Bailey Watkins has stepped forward as Triton’s No. 1 runner. (Photo by Nick Goralczyk)

Scott Erba’s girls team is ranked No. 7 in the state and is rolling on all cylinders. The sectional may provide an opportunity to work on a couple depth runners if his varsity core needs a break.

“The great thing with the sectional is we can see more girls step up and race, and they want to compete,” Erba said. “If someone needs some rest, we can get them that and let them heal up for hopefully a semi-state race. I feel good about our depth, and am excited to see them perform.”

Mia Beckham has been outstanding for Warsaw this year, elevating to the No. 1 for the club. Beckham finished second at the NLC, and along with Allison Miller and Anna Craig, give Warsaw an experienced and formidable trio at the top. Combine in Brooke Rhodes, Hannah Dawson, Emma Hayward and Claire Kehler, and the Iron Seven have been sensational. Erba could use any combination of six JV runners, including Charlene Orr, Mallory Hooks or anyone else. It’s Warsaw’s sectional to lose.

The Tiger boys don’t have a bevy of depth to choose from, but coach Jim Mills has been overly impressed with what his varsity has done. Led by Owen Glogovsky and surprise frontrunner Zeb Hernandez – who is just a freshman in his first year of cross country – the Tigers have also used the exploits of Lucas Howett and Xavi Ramirez to create quite a lead group. Add in Jon Beres and Nate Gottschalk, and the recipe for a big showing could be in store this postseason.

Glogovsky won’t run this weekend as he will have a college visit, but expect Warsaw to still be the heavy favorite.

Josh Wright of Whitko could factor in the Fort Wayne Northrop individual standings. (Photo by Nick Goralczyk)

“The sectional will give us a chance to see a couple other guys potentially step up and shine,” Mills said. “With Owen out, and Rochester has a couple really good guys, this isn’t a meet we can just go in and run backwards and think we’re going to walk over everyone. We need to step up like we have each week.”

Tippecanoe Valley has had a pair of runners emerge in Jesse Floor and Karly Kitch. The two both placed well at the Three Rivers Conference meet and should be in contention for an individual advance to regional.

Triton likely won’t have the depth to get out as a team on either side, but expect to see Bailey Watkins for the boys and Baylee McIntire for the girls run well. Barring any setbacks, the two could crack the top 10 in each race.

Wawasee will be fighting to crack the top five in the team race. After disappointing showings at the NLC, both teams saw majority of the sectional field and knows it will take more than sixth and eighth place team finishes.

Wawasee’s boys did not fare well at the NLC, with Bennett Hoffert the top runner with a 33rd place run. The opportunity is there for runners like Hoffert, Sam Griner and Luke Griner, but they will need to have exceptional days to advance.

The Lady Warriors have a strong front half of its roster, led by Aubrey Kuhn and McKenzie Smith, both landing in the top 22 at the NLC. Elizabeth Zorn gives Wawasee a solid third runner, but coach Doug Slabaugh noted his team needs better effort from its 4-7.

“There is no way we make regional if we have a minute splitting up our third and fourth runner,” Slabaugh said. “Right now, it looks like we are in a group point-wise with Concord, Goshen and NorthWood. We have to beat probably two of them if we want to advance.”

Whitko has dealt with injury issues and short rosters, but does have talent. The combo of Brigit Nemitz and Suzi Sickafoose for the girls and Josh Wright for the boys have the talent to crack the individual regional despite a talented Fort Wayne area conglomerate. Nemitz most recently finished sixth at the TRC last weekend.

Warsaw’s Anna Craig has stepped forward as a force for the Lady Tiger girls cross country team. Craig is shown here passing Northridge’s Mackenzie Adams at the NLC last weekend. (Photo by Mike Deak)