HOOSIER CONFERENCE MEET

Kokomo Tribune - Wednesday, September 30, 2018

BY TRIBUNE STAFF REPORTS

Western raced to a second-place team finish in the 10-school event at Rensselaer with a score of 93.

"It looks like everything is coming together at the right time," Western coach Gary Jewell said. "We were wondering when we were going to catch a break with the weather. We had a fast course that was flat, perfect weather and good competition. The result was nine guys running substantial PRs."

Brayden Curnutt led the Panthers, earning a top-15 HC All-Conference nod with a 13th-place finish in 17:42. Following him were a pair of all-conference honorable mention finishes in Pete Bradshaw (18th, 18:14) and Joseph Packard (19th, 18:19).

Taylor Rathbun (23rd, 18:35) and Evan Kretz (24th, 18:42) packed together to round out Western's top five.

"We took a week off from racing and it allowed us a mental holiday," Jewell said. "We had an inclination during the week that the guys were getting ready to run some fast times because it was starting to show in practice."

West Lafayette ran away with a team score of 18 to take first overall, with the Red Devils' Harry Shook crossing first individually in 16:44.

Northwestern tied Cass in sixth place with a 152, falling to seventh on a tiebreaker.

Jacob Myers earned all-conference honorable mention with a 16th-place time of 17:53. Jace Cournoyer was 25th in 18:44, Jeremy Bell 35th in 19:09, Mitchell Harrell 37th in 19:18, and Gus Bourff 44th in 19:29.

"Just a tremendous day for the boys top to bottom," Northwestern coach Dave Stevens said. "My top five guys all set personal bests. Beautiful weather on a nicely designed course. Really proud of the boys. Really solid race for Jacob."

GIRLS MEET

Western took fourth place on a tiebreaker with a score of 114 for the top area finish in the 10-school meet at Rennselaer.

Natalie Nicholson earned all-conference honors with an 11th-place finish in 20:08, while Hannah Lushin earned all-conference honorable mention with her 19th-place run of 20:43.

Olivia Lushin was 22nd (21:08), Megan Hampshire 25th (21:16), and Emma Marley 37th (21:52). Sarah Manuel's sixth score of 22:20 for 41st was the diference maker in the tiebreaker.

"It was a great lesson for the girls that those positions do make a difference," Western coach Joni Neer said. "Sarah got a 30-second PR so no matter the outcome I was very proud of her.

"We still have to get faster," Neer added. "We have a lot of competition to face at [Logansport Sectional] next Saturday. [Rennselaer] was a fun course. I think the key is the girls had fun and raced well. That's a good combo."

West Lafayette was conference champ with a score of 35, with Hamilton Heights' Maria Mitchell taking the top individual spot in 18:25.

Cass was sixth at the meet with a score of 166, while Northwestern took eighth with a score of 171.

Lauren Longshore earned all-conference honors with her 14th-place finish in 20:11.

"Lauren has bounced back pretty well from oral surgery a few weeks ago," Northwestern coach Dave Stevens said. "She made all-conference and 20:11 was a season best. It was a good warmup for sectional. I'm really looking forward to them taking a shot at going to regional."

Also for the Tigers, Casey Lechner was 23rd (21:11), Ella Deck 32nd (21:38), Sophia Yager-Motl 46th (22:51), and Ellie Hendrickson 57th (25:27).