BUNKER HILL -- Pulling up to the four-way stop next to Cogdell Field, Eastern cross country coach Brandon Mink pointed out the sign hanging on the field's chain-link fence to his boys Tuesday afternoon.
The sign notes the Comets' 1997 victory in the Mid-Indiana Conference meet -- the last time they won the title.
"We had a look at it and I told them we have a chance to put our name on it," Mink said.
Some day soon, the year 2004 will be added to that sign after the Comets emerged as a two-point winner over Western in the MIC meet at Maconaquah. The Comets swept the boys titles as senior Tony Martin was the individual winner, helping his team to a score of 64.
The Panthers finished with 66 while Peru was third at 71. Hamilton Heights (82) was fourth and was followed by Cass (112), Maconaquah (123) and Northwestern (135).
As expected, No. 16 Hamilton Heights defended its girls title by placing its five scoring runners among the first nine finishers for a total of 26. Western grabbed second with 48 and the Braves were third at 48. Cass (96) and Northwestern (103) rounded out the girls teams.
On the boys side, most of the coaches believed the finish would be close among four teams: Eastern, Western, Peru and Heights. But, the Huskies fell back and it became a three-team battle.
"I was happy with our top three -- they were all in the top 11," Neer said. "We had three runners in before Eastern's second so I thought we were in great shape. Hats off to Eastern. They did a great job and I'm glad for Brandon."
The first Comet in after Martin, who ran the course in 16 minutes, 5 seconds, was Johnathan Fansler in 12th. Trevor Young ran 16th, Drew Parton 18th and Kedric Athan completed the team in 21st.
"This was a complete team victory -- everyone pulled their weight," Mink said. "We had some fantastic efforts. Just missing at Howard County made them want it even more."
The Panthers escaped with the Howard County title a little over a week ago on the tiebreaker.
Neer called Athan "the key as far as Eastern's success" and Mink wouldn't argue that.
"Kedric was fantastic. He cut 40 seconds," Mink said of the sophomore. "Tony ran a great race and it went right down the line. Trevor and Drew dropped more than 30 seconds. Johnathan ran his heart out. He was having breathing problems -- he was out of breath and exhausted -- but he knew that every place counted."
Neer initially believed Peru had won the title as Cody Siblisk placed fifth, the first of four Bengal Tiger runners among the first 13 finishers. But, their fifth runner came in 41st.
"I was concerned because Peru had four runners ahead of our second runner for a mile. But, then the kids raced through the crowd," Neer said.
Michael Marley finished in fourth for the Panthers with Luke Minor eighth and Eric Walsh 11th. Trevor Mann was 23rd and Moshe Rison 25th.
"I can't fault our guys. Michael PR'd and so did Luke. All of our guys ran well," Neer said.
The top 10 runners earned all-conference honors. Taylor's Christopher Sinnett came in second while Northwestern's Matt Ullmer was third. Others to earn all-MIC were Peru's Conrad Warder III (seventh) and Tony Zimmerman (10th), Hamilton Heights' Jordan Ellis (sixth) and Maconaquah's Jared Holycross (ninth).
Eight of the first nine runners in the girls race were either from Heights or Western. For the second consecutive year, Panther Annina Gruber claimed the individual title with a time of 15:01. Teammates Anna Hurlock and Megan Clearwaters were third and eighth respectively and Cassie Myer was 11th.
But, Heights runner Heather Reeves was second and the Huskies' Abbie Garrison, Crystal Alley and Alyssa Burkhardt followed in fourth through sixth and Alice McIntosh finished their quintet in ninth.
"It played out like it should. I'm pleased with our girls' times. Almost every girl got a PR," Neer said. "Annina put it together. She had a rough middle to her season, but she overcame that and ran this race to perfection. She surged when she was supposed to and her final 300 [meters] was strong and powerful.
"Megan, this was her first time under 16:00. She has the heart of a champion and is a great leader. She likes to come from behind and work her way back one at a time. She did it to perfection."
Gruber, Reeves and Hurlock were together for nearly the entire race, but then Gruber made her move.
"Dana and I were talking about it and he said as long as I was right there with them, that at three-quarters mile, to pick it up and sprint," she said. "That's what I did.
"For a couple meets I was out of it. I've been getting better and better and [Tuesday}, I finally put it together."
Northwestern's Lauren Sewell broke up the Western-Heights grouping in the first nine as she took seventh. The Braves' Kristi Romine took 10th.