Warsaw, Goshen Maintain Their Ranks
By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews
WARSAW – The Northern Lakes Conference held round two of its new round robin cross country format Tuesday, and so far the chalk is talking.
Goshen continued its stronghold of the boys standings after a second 7-0 finish at Warsaw’s cross country complex, and the host Lady Tigers also did the same as both teams finished 14-0 in the round robin ahead of the NLC Championships in two weeks.
The two round robin runs, the first Sept. 1 at the Callander Sports Complex in Nappanee and the second Tuesday in Warsaw, comprise half the point totals for the cross country season. The other half will come at Ox Bow on Oct. 3 when the teams will run its third leg of the triangle.
Warsaw’s girls, barring disaster in two weeks, should be primed for the title after a perfect run again Tuesday. The Lady Tigers placed all five scorers in the top 15, including runner-up Wini Barnett in second at 19:16 and Regan Brouwer with a strong finish to take fifth at 19:58. Ava Knight was seventh (20:27), followed by Amanda Lusinde (13, 20:57) and Adree Beckham (15, 21:11).
Northridge’s Hayley Hile was again the medalist in the race, taking honors at 19:12. Tame Baylis was third for the Raiders at 19:41. The Raiders only had blemishes to Warsaw in both competitions, finishing 12-2 in the round robin.
Mishawaka, led by Sarah Bashara’s 20:30, finished third at 10-4.
NorthWood’s Kaitlin Burden was fourth overall in the race at 19:58, working her way back up the pack after a slow start through the first mile. Emilie Allen (22, 22:10) and Jenna Markham (30, 22:45) gave NorthWood a 3-4 finish to conclude 7-7 in the round robin.
Goshen (6-8), Concord (4-10), Wawasee (2-12) and Plymouth (1-13) wrap up the standings.
Wawasee’s pack fell behind the leaders, and didn’t make up any ground in the second wave. Emma Ebright led the team at 22:19, but was 24th overall. Mariah Hurst (31, 22:45) and Autumn Turner (35, 23:07) were next through the chute.
On the boys side, the RedHawks were equally impressive to its first showing on Sept. 1, taking the top three spots again. Drew Hogan again won the race with a time of 15:51, and the next two Goshen runners swapped spots from the last race, Cole Johnson taking second at 16:06 and Tommy Claxton third at 16:24. Ryan Diaz Perales was sixth (16:45) and Adrian Mora was 24th (17:22) in a show of force in the NLC.
Northridge finished second in the circuit with a 6-1 mark Tuesday, using a pack flurry in crossing nearly together. Jon Speicher (11, 16:55), Jaxon Miller (14, 17:04) and Bryce McMann (15, 17:10) led the Raiders (11-3), which also had runners place10-4) 19th and 21st.
The Raiders edged NorthWood, the Panthers taking third and a 5-2 mark on the day, led by Brady Hunsberger in ninth at 16:52, then trailed by Jordan Burden (12, 16:58), Grady Stevenson (18, 17:12) and both Eric Hochstetler and Owen Miller cracking the top 26.
Warsaw’s Harrison Phipps led a depleted lineup that had several key runners missing. Gone were Jacob Kissling, Tanner Stiver and Sam Lechlitner from the lineup, the three had placed within the top 11 in the first round robin, but were not available Tuesday. Harrison Phipps would lead the Tigers with a 16:47 and seventh place, followed by Luke Nier (13, 17:03) and Garret Hall (23, 17:22). Sam Slough and Nate Knecht were also scorers for the Tigers.
Wawasee landed without a win in either series. Karlson Hand would lead the team with a run of 16:49 to take eighth overall. Camden Powell was 22nd at 17:20 and Josiah Boyer was third on the Warrior sheet, but crossed the line in 49th at 18:52. Landen Kessler and Ian Kaase were also scorers for the Warriors.
The boys standings finished Goshen (14-0), Northridge (11-3), Warsaw (10-4), NorthWood (9-5), Concord (6-8), Plymouth (4-10), Mishawaka (2-12) and Wawasee (0-14).