GIRLS XC: Howard County preview

Kokomo Tribune - Thursday, August 18, 2016

Western's girls cross country team is the defending Logansport Sectional champion. The Panthers posted a score of 63 to edge Maconaquah (64) and Northwestern (70) for their first title since 2008. In the Culver Academies Regional, the teams finished third, fourth and fifth.

The teams picked up Tuesday where they left off last season. In the Northwestern Combination meet to open the new season, the Tigers took the title with Mac following in second and Western in third.

Western and Northwestern return the bulk of their lineups. They lead the way in Howard County with Kokomo and Eastern looking to mix returning runners with newcomers and Taylor in rebuilding mode.

The following are looks at the five Howard County teams.

WESTERN

The Panthers graduated Erin Knepley, who topped the team in the regional with a ninth-place finish, but the rest of their lineup returns.

Seniors Reagan Ritchie and Allison McMinn, juniors Taylor Walden and Logan Buck and sophomores Natalie Nicholson and Emma Marley are back from the postseason lineup. It's a balanced group — the Panthers placed all of their runners in the top 23 at the sectional to key their title. Nicholson led the way with an eighth-place finish.

Senior Jama Claxton, junior Bronwyn Getts and sophomore Megan Hampshire also are back. In the spring, Getts, Marley, Ritchie and Nicholson teamed to win the 4x800 relay in the track sectional.

Western also has senior Shelby Hulka, who is rejoining the team after taking a year off, sophomores Erika Babbs, Jennah Worthington and Rachel Zentz and freshmen Olivia Lushin and Hannah Lushin.

"We are excited to see what this team can do," coach Joni McCracken said. "Obviously losing [Knepley] will have a significant impact on our team in many aspects. We have, however, had some of our returning runners step up and work hard this summer to help fill in the gap. We believe we can still be a strong contender for a sectional championship and recognize that the competition level will once again increase."

McCracken said the Panthers had a good offseason.

"We begin running together as a team the second week in June. We meet four days a week to run together as a group. All the girls participated throughout the summer," she said.

NORTHWESTERN

Northwestern coach Dave Stevens reported a turnout of 18 girls.

"That's a great number for a school our size. ... We're returning a big portion of our nucleus from last year's team that went to semistate," he said.

Stevens said senior Nicole Crocker, junior Kate Biley and sophomores Lauryn Fackler, Casey Lechner, Madison McGriff and Sophia Yager-Motl are his top six runners. Freshmen Kaylynne Fernandes, Adri Freeman and Lauren Longshore are vying for the No. 7 spot.

"I could put any seven of the nine in any meet and feel like we're going to compete," Stevens said. "Those younger girls at the bottom, I think they're going to do well."

McGriff and Lechner are the Tigers' top runners. They finished second and third, respectively, in the 1-2 race of Tuesday's combination meet.

Lechner led the Tigers in the 2015 sectional with a 10th-place finish. Yager-Motl was 12th. McGriff missed last season with an injury.

After McGriff and Lechner, Stevens thinks the Tigers have the potential for pack running.

Stevens also has seniors Emma Bailey, Alyssa Pier and Tory Combs — an experienced group that Stevens credits for setting excellent examples for younger runners.

Northwestern hopes to make noise in the postseason. The Tigers are shooting for their first sectional title and more.

"They're looking for patches for their jackets," Stevens said. "That's always been my motivation thing. You want patches for your jacket and that means winning, that means moving on [in the state tournament series].

"We talked some this summer: We're not going to be happy just reaching semistate, we want to go up there and compete. It's tough up there — the big schools take over and the rest of us have to fight for what's left. I told them I'd like to shoot for top 15."

EASTERN

The Comets have to go without Sydnie Hill, who will miss her senior season following a summer illness, but they return sophomores Molly Hapner, Miranda Addison and Catie White and welcome five new runners.

"Though we’ll miss Sydnie, it’s exciting to have eight girls on the team this year," coach Ben Cox said. "I’m especially looking forward to seeing what Molly can do — she really improved last year, culminating in an appearance in the regional track meet as a member of the 4x800 team."

Junior Olivia Vogl, who is new to cross country this year, also was on the 4x800 team.

The other newcomers are juniors Nishalia Bailey, Vivie White and Katrina Witt and sophomore Grace White. Witt is a sprinter in track.

"The girls really enjoy running together and have a great attitude about the sport," Cox said.

Cox is eager to see how his team develops.

"Though there are several juniors on the team, we’re pretty young, as none of the juniors have run cross country until this year. I really just want to see each of the girls improve during the season so they and the team can perform their best in the sectional," he said.

"Molly was pretty close to individually qualifying for the regional last year, and we’d like to take another shot at that for her."

KOKOMO

New Kokomo coach Chad Salinas is pleased with what he is seeing.

"At this point, workouts and times are improving," he said. "... I am pleased that we have doubled the number of runners that have come out this season from past seasons. Hopefully we can get over a few nagging injuries and peak towards conference and sectional."

The Wildkats return a pair of runners — juniors Cinnamon Andrews and Abigail O'Keefe. At last year's sectional, Andrews was 47th (24:06.37) and O'Keefe was 70th (29:40.39). Kokomo finished ninth as a team.

There are four newcomers — senor Cori Johnston, sophomore Nicole Erny and freshmen Madison Cleaver and Breanna Roberts.

Salinas said it's "a rebuilding year" for the Kats.

"We have a young group of hardworking girls who I expect to improve tremendously throughout the season," he said. "If they continue to push each other and work as a team, I feel that we have a chance to make it out of the sectional to regional."

Kokomo finished ninth in the 12-team sectional last year. The top five teams advance to the regional.

Salinas noted the North Central Conference is in a transition year following perennial power Huntington North's exit.

KOKOMO

Seniors Cinnamon Andrews, Abbie O'Keefe and Corinth Oglesby form the core of Kokomo's squad. Andrews is a three-time team MVP. She led the team in the 2015 sectional with a 28th-place finish.

"Cinnamon advanced to the regional meet last season and has the goal of making it to run at the semistate meet this season," coach Chad Salinas said. "Abbie and Corinth will be pacing with each other throughout the season and will be vital point-scorers for our team."

The Kats also return sophomore Brianna Roberts, who will join Andrews at the top of the lineup.

"Bre has the potential to be one of the best runners in the area," Salinas said. "She will need to continue to stay focused and gain confidence in her running ability."

Freshmen Tionna Brown, Hailey Sage and Jada Moore round out the roster. Salinas said they are new to distance running, but he is confident they will make steady improvement over the course of the season.

Salinas is hoping the team can stay healthy and peak for the North Central Conference and sectional meets.

TAYLOR

The Titans are starting over after graduating Indiana State recruit Cami Hansen and Paige Welsh. Hansen finished third in the sectional last year.

Coach Matt Carlile has one runner, freshman Carly Brewster. She had success in middle school.

"She's keeping up with the boys," Carlile said of the Titans' practices.

Taylor opens at North Miami on Tuesday.