MACONAQUAH INVITATIONAL

Kokomo Tribune - Monday, September 14, 2020

BY TRIBUNE STAFF REPORTS

Western’s boys cross country team took first place in the 19-team Maconaquah Invite on Saturday with a minuscule score of 24. Valparaiso was a distant second with 108 and Delta took third at 132. Northwestern (198), Peru (212) and Tipton (228) finished 6-7-8 and Cass (255) rounded out the top 10.

Western took four of the first five spots individually. Panther pace-setter Brayden Curnutt was first in a time of 16:42, Joseph Packard was second in 16:58, Pete Bradshaw was third in 17:20, Drew Caldwell was fifth in 17:33, and Taylor Rathbun took 13th in 18:21.

“Three years ago we finished dead last,” Western coach Gary Jewell said.

“At the mile, our pack of Brayden, J.P., Pete and Drew were actually about seven seconds behind the leader. The plan was to run as a pack early on and then attack the last two miles. Brayden took control at about the 2K mark and led the rest of the way. Joseph moved into second place shortly after that.”

Northwestern took sixth. Caleb Champion led the Purple Tigers, finishing eighth in 18:06. Isaiah Kanable was 15th in 18:34, Caden Cothern was 54th in 20:16, Colin Feazel was 59th in 20:34, and Corbyn Sparling was 62nd in 20:41.

Alex Legg led Peru, taking 18th in 18:41. Kayden Gee was 56th in 18:59, Aiden Stewart was 47th in 19:44, Kayden Lancaster was 55th in 20:01, and Landon Caldwell was 74th in 21:11.

GIRLS RACE

Maconaquah posted a score of 74 and finished second in the Maconaquah Invite’s girls race, which had 13 teams. Delta won with a score of 67, Western was third at 81, Cass fourth with 99, Eastern sixth at 163, Northwestern ninth with 234, and Peru 13th with 338.

Mac coach Allen Sayger liked his squad’s balance which included three runners in the top 20 — Abby Jordan (fifth, 20:45); Karli Miller (seventh, 21:18); and Lauren Driscoll (13th, 21:48). Lauryn Merritt (24th, 22:53) and Rachel Eby (29th, 23:10) rounded out Mac’s scoring.

For Northwestern, Hannah Moore took third in 19:22, Ella Deck was 26th (23:08), Katelyn Saul was 53rd (24:35), Sally Freeman was 75th (28:52) and Brenna Morrow was 77th (29:08).

Brianna Bennett led Peru, taking 63rd in 24:51. Chloe Holler was 71st in 25:34, Sadie Carter was 75th in 26:10, Kaylene Kirk was 83rd in 28:20, and Anna Roush was 89th in 29:35.