LAFAYETTE — The post-season officially got underway for all four of our area cross country teams on Saturday morning. The Tippecanoe Amphitheater was the site for Sectional 12 as North Montgomery, Crawfordsville, Fountain Central, and Southmont all were at the same location. The day proved fruitful for all four of our area teams as they will all be represented next week at the Brownsburg Regional. 13 different individuals as well as the entire Crawfordsville boys team qualified with their performances.
In the boys race, the talented Athenian squad continued to shine with their best performance of the season with a fourth place finish scoring 126 points. The top five teams along with CHS that advanced included Harrison (48 pts), Lafayette Jeff (53), West Lafayette (63), and Seeger (130). Cville senior Ryan Miller placed third overall with a time of 16:32 while junior Hutton Haas took 17th with a time of 17:15. Max Brumett placed 23rd with Capper Cole (42nd) and Jantzen Thayer (43rd) rounding out the top five for CHS.
“It was great to see the boys run well today,” Crawfordsville coach Megan Craig said. “Colton and Max ran today with a fresher set of legs after finishing their soccer season and it showed. Cole Capper ran a PR today and took the 4th spot for us. Hutton has continued to drop time the last few meets and has brought key points where we needed them. Ryan Miller has been working on his last mile all season and today he was aggressive and determined and it showed. He had a great 3rd place finish.”
Southmont placed ninth as a team and will send two individuals to the Regional in senior Mason Cass and sophomore Sam Crum. Cass placed 29th with a time of 17:53 while Crum took 37th while running an 18:09. For Crum this will be his first appearance at the Regional while Cass is back in a familiar position.
“I’m super happy with how both of them ran today and honestly all of us a team,” Mountie coach Shelley Allen said. “Sam is a pretty calm individual and doesn’t let the pressure effect him that much. I’m happy for Mason that he got to extend his career one more week too.”
The Chargers as a team took 10th right behind the Mounties. Senior Paul Lueking was able to extend his running career one more week with a 40th place finish and advance as an individual. Lueking ran a time of 18:13. For Charger coach and Lueking’s dad Tim, it was a proud day as he wore both the coach and dad hats and saw his senior leader and son qualify for the Regional.
“I’m very proud of Paul and am very excited for him to clinch one of those last spots for the Regional,” Tim said. “This is a tough sectional and it’s a great honor to see him get out. We had Jack Rogers right there too but just missed out. For us the sectional is when we strive to race our best and next week I’ve told Paul to go out and enjoy it. I know he’s looking forward to it.”
Fountain Central will send Hayden Kler as the Mustang senior placed 30th with a time of 17:56.
In the girls race, Southmont had a very strong showing and will send four girls to the Regional. Freshman Amarah Shannon was the top placer with her 27th place run with teammate sophomore Darby Cottrell finishing right behind her in 28th. Lennon Woods placed 33rd and Sophomore Jaysa Crull also advances with her 41st place finish.
“These girls have trained so hard all season and have really pushed one another to get better and we’re seeing the results of that,” Allen said of her girls team. “They’ve all run close together all season long and today shows how hard they’ve worked and to get four of them to the Regional is outstanding.”
CHS will send the senior duo of Gabby Warren and Skylah Strawser to the Regional after the two finished 31st and 32nd respectively. When their names were announced, the duo wore their emotions on their sleeves and Craig noted how both of them racing side by side to the finish was fun to watch.
“The girls have both gotten better about working out of their comfort zones,” she said. “Today they both trusted themselves and fought until the finish. It was great to see them coming down the chute side by side working off each other’s energy to pass every runner within reach. True teamwork.”
Fountain Central will also send three on the girls side joining Kler next week. Brailey Hoagland took 37th, Raley Messinger 38th, and Alydia Mellady took 44th.
Next Saturday’s Regional at Brownsburg will begin at 10:30 with the boys race with the girls to follow. The top five teams and top 15 individuals will qualify for the State Finals in two weeks.
