LINDEN — On a cross-country course, the difference between ordinary and unforgettable is sometimes measured in a breath, a stride, or the quiet determination of the runner who comes in sixth place for the team.
On Thursday at the Charger Classic, the North Montgomery Chargers made history on their home course.
The North Montgomery boys team captured the Charger Classic team championship for the first time since the inaugural meet 56 years ago, an achievement made even more dramatic by the narrowest of margins. The Chargers and Rensselaer Central each had their top five runners finish with the same team score of 62 points apiece. The championship was settled by the sixth runner. Charger Connor Laws (19:44) finished 29th to help his team edge out Rensselaer.
“That is cross country at its finest: a team sport disguised as an individual one,” said Charger coach Tim Lueking. “Every runner matters. Every position matters. Every step taken between the starting gun and the finish chute can become the step that changes the whole afternoon. For North Montgomery, it was the step that ended a 56-year wait.”
Charger junior Drew Dark (17:06) placed second and sophomore Cooper Stephens (17:20) placed fourth. Both boys set new class records.
Crawfordsville placed third in the boys standings bolstered by senior Josh Inskeep’s (17:01) first place finish.
Southmont’s top finisher was Trent Reeves (17:18) who finished third. Southmont’s team placed sixth.
The Charger girls added their own chapter to the evening, finishing third as a team — the program’s best Charger Classic finish in 17 years with 70 points. Charger Sarah Hopper (22:00) was the team’s top finisher.
Crawfordsville finished fifth with a team score of 108 and were led by freshman Brooklyn Wilkins (24:19) who placed 17th.
Southmont had an incomplete team led but had a good showing by sophomore Hayleigh Boots (21:23) who placed third.
“There will be more meets this season,” Lueking said. “There will be tougher courses, colder evenings, and races where the clock does not always work in our favor. But Thursday night at the Charger Classic gave the team some great memories and a night worth remembering.”
