Western senior Annina Gruber cruised to the individual title in 16:11 and all five Panthers finished in the top 15 to win the girls half of the Carroll Cross Country Invitational by a wide margin Tuesday. The 10th-ranked Western harriers topped the field with a score of 29, followed by Winamac (74) and Carroll (77). Clinton Central was fifth in a field of seven complete teams, scoring 119, and Tri-Central was sixth at 171.
The Panther boys won their half of the event, giving Western a sweep. Western's Jenn Elliott took fifth overall in a time of 17 minutes even. She counted as fourth in the scoring, which excludes runners from incomplete teams. Teammate Lacey Myer was sixth overall (fifth in the scoring) in a time of 17:07 and Anna Hurlock took seventh overall (sixth in the scoring) in 17:08. Cassie Myer took 15th overall and 13th in the scoring for Western.
"Our girls' purpose was to do the same as the boys, to run a good, solid race and prepare for our big race on Saturday," Western coach, Dana Neer said. "We were able to accomplish that with four in the top seven, and they enioyed some pack running there as well."
Western's girls will run in the New Prairie Invitational on Saturday, an event which Neer expects to draw more than 100 teams.
Tri-Central's Addle Rayl finished second overall in a time of 16:23 to lead the Troians. Tri-Central's lessica Reese was 52nd, Cassie Nance was 59th, Casey Henson was 62nd and Michelle Miller was 64th.
"Addie Rayl ran a strong race," TC coach Robyn Pagington said. "She kept moving up as the race progressed. The girls' times were slow [Tuesday]. Hopefully they'll be ready to race at our meets Thursday and Saturday."
Courtney Rinehart led Carroll's contingent with a finish of 10th overall (ninth in the scoring) in a time of 17:32, followed by teammate Kai Kennedy just a second behind in llth.
On the boys side, Western took the invite with a solid pack of runners in the top 10. Western's Treyor Mann finished seventh (18:51), Luke Minor followed in eighth (18:52) and Shawn parkins took ninth (18:54) as the Panthers racked up a team total of 54. Carroll was second at 72. Tri-Central took fifth in the field of eight full teams with 110, and Clinton Central was seventh at 176.
"Our purpose was we tried a little more pack running and had a good solid race as we prepare for New Prairie on Saturday," Neer said. "I was pleased with our guys. They ran the first mileand-a-half together and pushed each other along, and then they split off from there and completed the race."
Jared Hail took 14th place for Western (counting as 13th in the scoring, which excludes runners from incomplete teams) and teammate Alex Sigler was 19th overall, and 17th in the scoring.
Western competes in the New Prairie Invitational Saturday. More than 100 teams are expected to run the annual event.
Jake Ritchie led the TC effort with a fifth-place finish in a time of 18:54. TriCentral's lustin Huddleston took 21st, Nick Cox was 24th, Michael Reynolds was 27th and Cameron Colbert was 42nd, Jake Ritchie raced well to place fifth and earn a medal," Pagington said. "Justin Huddleston, Nick Cox and Michael Reynolds ran well to place in the top 30. None of the guys were able to run their best times. Hopefully they'll be ready to go for our meet at Hamilton Heights on Thursday and our meet at Tipton on Saturday"
Carroll's Sam Scharer was the top local finisher, taking second place in 18 minutes even.