Kokomo Tribune - Sunday, October 19, 2008

NW, 2 individuals also advance to CC semistate

CULVER — What do the Western girls have to do in order to win a cross country regional?

The Panthers placed five girls among the top 15 finishers of the Culver Academies Regional here Saturday, finishing with their best regional total ever of 42 points, but still ran runner-up to defending champion Culver Girls Academy (34).

It was the fifth time in sixth years Western has had to settle for regional second-best.

"We knew it was going to be tough," assistant coach Bo Britton said. "I was real pleased with the effort we had. [The Panthers] just did great."

The Eagles lost a state champion last season when Alex Banfich graduated but have replaced her with former Western Middle School student Waverly Neer.

Neer, a sophomore, won Saturday's race in 18 minutes, 41.1 seconds – more than a minute and a half faster than runner-up Jenna Norris of Oak Hill.

It was the 14th fastest time ever recorded by a girl on the course.

Western countered with an outstanding run by Ashley Gaskins, who used to be Neer's classmate. Gaskins was third, just a tick behind Norris (20:26.0) in 20:263.

Behind Gaskins for Western were Corianne Myer 10th, Jenn Elliott 11th, Krissy Duff 13th and Kayla Gaskins 15th.

"That one point doesn't count for much," Britton said of Neer's victory. "Its hard to erase that, but five in the top 15, I couldn't ask that- any- thing more than I've got no complaints with what they did [Saturday].

"Ashley really broke out [Saturday]. She [ran her personal best] by a whole bunch and just ran a real strong race. It's good to see that."

Finishing a distant third was the team from Plymouth with 108, followed by Northwestern (109) fourth and Manchester (153) fifth. The top five teams and top 15 individuals advance to the New Prairie Semistate next Saturday.

Maconaquah finished ninth with 181 points.

Sophomore Hannah Ault led the Tigers back to semi-state for the first time since 2003. She was eighth in 20.49.9.

"Hannah is still new to running at the front," coach Dave Stevens said. "She ran with Waverly maybe a little too long, but that was a good strategy as well. She got out in the open and could see where the course was.

"She's learning and next Saturday she'll have that experience. She's led us all season and that's a tough spot to be in'

Ault was followed by Nicki Hendricks 17th, Gretchen Catron 27th, Lauren Dewhurst 34th and Morgan Hullinger 42nd.

"I was proud of all the efforts," said Stevens. "[The girls] have had a mission since early in the season and they were really focused in practice this week."

Kokomo freshman Annika Taber ran with the pack contending for second place but struggled to the finish line. She finished seventh in 20:48.1 and earn another run next week.

Kokomo coach Ricke Stucker said Taber will need to eat more than pretzels and water prior to a race.

"She didn't have any fuel," said Stucker. "It's another learning situation for her. She's making lots of mistakes but she's still alive and [advancing to semistate].

"She will be so much stronger and so much smarter next year that it's exciting to think about."

Lewis Cass sophomore Ashley Baber was the other area individual to advance. She was fourth in 20:30.6.

Cass teammate Hannah Johnson (23:05) was 49th while Peru's Jessica Parkman (22:19) finished 30th.

The Braves were paced by Kim Lane, who was 29th in 22:14.