Kokomo Tribune - Friday, October 12, 2007

The Culver Academies Regional will offer a contrast in competition when Howard County cross country runners make the trek there Saturday for the first time.

On the one hand there's Alex Banfich of Culver Academies, the state's two-time reigning state champion.

Banfich won the CA Sectional 5,000-meter race Tuesday in 18 minutes, 36 seconds - more than a minute faster than her nearest competitor. Barring something unforeseen on her home course, Banfich will win the girls race.

"We ran against Culver [Academies] at the New Prairie Invitational, but Alex ran in a different class than the rest of her team," said Western coach Heather Yentes, whose Panthers are in search of their seventh straight trip to semistate. "[Our girls] know Alex very well"

On the other hand the Eagles were one of five teams from their sectional to qualify for Saturday's regional, the only five schools able to field a complete girls team.

The boys sectional wasn't much stronger with only eight teams competing, including champion Plymouth and the runner-up Eagles.

According to Kokomo coach Ricke Stucker, it won't be like years past at the Marion Regional with teams the likes of Huntington North, Columbia City, Carroll of Allen County and the host Giants.

His Wildkats finished third at the Logansport Sectional on Tuesday and seek a third consecutive semistate berth are four teams that are better right there," Stucker said, speaking of the field Saturday that also includes Northfield, Tippecanoe Valley and Rochester. 'We've got an easier route to go and the course is easier. We hope to set some season-bests, weather permitting'

Western, Northwestern, Cass and Kokomo compete in the girls race, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Maconaquah's Kim Lane will run as an individual.

The top five teams and top 15 individuals advance to the New Prairie Semistate a week from Saturday.

On the boys side, which follows the girls race, Western, Kokomo, Maconaquah and Peru will challenge for one of five spots available. Northwestern's Kory Kennedy will run as an individual.

Stucker isn't worried about Northfield, a team his Kats beat at the Wabash Invitational earlier. He's focused on the Logansport champion Oak Hill.

"Those are four teams that are better right there," Stucker said, speaking of the field Saturday that also includes Northfield, Tippecanoe Valley and Rochester. "We've got an easier route to go and the course is easier. We hope to set some season-bests, weather permitting."

Western, Northwestern, Cass and Kokomo compete in the girls race, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Maconaquah's Kim Lane will rn as an individual.

The top 5 teams and top 15 individuals will advance to the New Prairie Semistate a week from Saturday.

Kokomo had three runners, Brandon Sheline, Ian Holtson and Devin White, finish among the top 15 Tuesday.

"We're going to have to have everybody run their best race or we won't get out," Stucker said. "We could probably get anywhere from fifth to eighth."

The Panther boys haven't been to a semistate since 2003. They were second to the Golden Eagles on Tuesday.

Corey Scott set the pace for them Tuesday by placing second to champion Cameron. Balser of Oak Hill. Teammate Zac Martinez was fifth.

"I'm looking forward to their course [at, Culver Academies]," said coach Joe Orr. "I hear it's very nice and if we get some more cool weather we'll do well again:'

Kennedy, a junior, will make his third regional start. He has never advanced to the semi-state.

The Western girls are having another strong season despite losing two of their top runners to injuries and despite relying on freshmen to fill key roles.

One of those injured was freshman Ashley Gaskins, who is expected back from a stress fracture to compete Saturday. The Panthers' only senior, Katie Hollingsworth, has been cleared to work out with the team this week but her return might be delayed until semi-state.

Anchoring the team for first-year coach Yentes have been juniors Jenn Elliott and Lacey Myer. They finished fifth and 15th, respectively, on Tuesday.

Elliott and Myer were once newcomers in their own right, cracking the top five runners for Western's sectional champions in 2005.

"It's the leadership of Jenn and Lacey that is helping [this year's freshmen] a lot," Yentes said. "They've been in these situations and they do a really good job of talking to the freshmen and letting them know it's OK to be nervous"

Northwestern's girls last went to regional in 2005 and finished sixth. Their most recent trip to semistate was in 2003.

Senior Jennifer Claudio led the Tigers with a third-place finish Tuesday.

Kokomo's Nicky Parry carried the Wildkats to fifth place, Tuesday with her victory at Logansport. Stucker would be happy just to see either Parry or Hailey Butchart, who finished 11th at Logan, punch their tickets to New Prairie.

"We're 'trying to get Nicky in that top 15," Stucker said. "We'd like to have Hailey Butchart finish as high as she can and maybe sneak oout if she has a good race."