Kokomo Tribune - Wednesday, October 08, 2008

RUSSIAVILLE — The Western girls cross country team can proudly claim a three-peat after winning the 2008 Mid-Indiana Conference meet on a rain-soaked Tuesday at Oakbrook Valley Park.

Western won in convincing fashion, putting its top five runners in the top eight positions for a score of 27 points. Northwestern hosted the meet and came in second with 55 and Maconaquah (87), Cass (99), Peru (116) and Hamilton Heights (134) rounded out the standings. Eastern and Taylor had incomplete teams.

Western assistant coach Bo Britton was happy with the Panthers’ performance.

“We had five girls in the top 10, and I am real pleased with how they ran,” Britton said. “They all ran strong races, and a lot of them had season bests. We also had some personal bests. [As for weather conditions] I liked it. The girls liked it. It wasn’t real hot, and they don’t mind the rain, and it showed in the way that they ran.”

Corianne Myer led the Panther pack with a third-place finish in a time of 20 minutes, 43 seconds. Jenn Elliott (20:49) and Ashley Gaskins (20:58) followed in fourth and fifth, Krissy Durr (21:07) came in seventh and Kayla Gaskins (21:16) placed eighth.

“Myer has been steady all season long,” Britton said. “Elliott had a season best for the year. Durr, who is our No. 6 runner, had a personal best. Ashley Gaskins and Kayla Gaskins were near their bests, and I am pleased with them. They are working hard.”

Northwestern also didn’t mind running in the rain with three Tiger runners in the top 10.

Hannah Ault was the top Tiger with a second place finish in 20:30. Gretchen Catron (21:30) and Nicole Hendricks (21:41) came in ninth and 10th, Lauren Dewhurst (22:20) finished 16th and Morgan Hullinger (22:37) was 18th.

The other two runners in the top 10 were Hamilton Heights’ Caity Murdock and Cass’ Ashley Baber. Murdock was the overall winner in a time of 20:22, and Baber placed sixth in 20:58.

Maconaquah’s third-place finish was keyed by four of its top five runners placing in the top 19. Abbie Jenkins led the Braves with a 13th-place finish in 22:09.

Jessica Parkman was Peru’s top runner with an 11th-place finish in 21:53.

Leslie Maple was the top Taylor runner by placing 25th in 23:03 and Eastern was led by Lindsey Reprogle’s 27th place finish in 23:11