XC SECTIONAL PREVIEW: Logan's Berry Patch looms for area squads

Kokomo Tribune, October 07, 2016

Twelve schools are set to descend on Loganport for Saturday's boys and girls cross country sectional, with several area squads looking for what should hopefully be some better weather than what many have experienced the last several weeks of the season.

"I think all of us coaches have been saying the same thing for the last month: we'd love to run in something that isn't a swamp," Western boys coach Gary Jewell joked.

Howard County schools Taylor, Eastern, Northwestern and Kokomo join Western in the fray, while other notable area schools are Cass, Maconaquah, Peru and Carroll. Winamac, Pioneer, and the host Berries round out the field.

"Logansport tends to be a fast course, the ground is usually pretty good. I expect us to do pretty good on it," Jewell said.

The top five teams in each race advance to the Culver Academies regional on Oct. 15, with the top 15 individuals not on one of the advancing teams moving on as well.

GIRLS RACE

Defending sectional champ Western is poised to repeat after edging Maconaquah by a point last year, buy they'll face some stiff competition with the Braves and Northwestern in the mix as well.

"I think it's going to be the same situation as last year, just a super close race, which makes it fun," Western coach Joni McCracken said. "I think any of those teams are capable, it just happens to be who's on that day. As far as we go, our girls are in a good place right now. Mac and Northwestern are definitely the ones we have to watch."

Panther sophomore Natalie Nicholson finished in eighth place at 20:47 for Western in the sectionals a year ago. She took 10th in last week's Hoosier Conference meet at 20:02. Western's No. 2 runner Emma Marley also ran on last year's sectional squad, along with Allison McMinn. McMinn finished 14th (21:27) and Marley was 18th (21:27). McCracken pointed to sophomore Megan Hampshire, junior Logan Buck, and twin freshmen sisters Olivia and Hannah Lushin as rounding out her squad, saying that her 3-7 runners could vie for any of those spots on a given day.

Northwestern coach Dave Stevens threw Cass into the mix as another squad that should be up near the top of the heap.

"Right now I think it's those four teams, Cass has a couple girls that make a strong showing for them," Stevens said. "The rest should all be challenging for that fifth spot."

Cass features Miah Martin and Alexis Jackson, who finished first and second at the HC meet. Martin took first at 18:55 with Jackson right behind at 18:56. Martin was the individual sectional winner last year as a freshman with a time of 19:28.

Sophomore Casey Lechner leads the Tiger corps. She finished 10th at 20:52 in last year's sectional and took 21st with the same time in last week's HC meet. Kate Bilkey and Nicole Crocker also return sectional experience. Bilkey, Northwestern's No. 2, was 28th (21:27) last week while Crocker was right behind her at 29th (21:30). Lauren Longshore and Madison McGriff round out the Tigers' five.

Kokomo's Bre Roberts is coming off a 25th-place finish (23:02) at the North Central Conference meet to lead the Kats' contingent.

Eastern's Molly Hapner was runner-up in last week's Hoosier Heartland Conference meet with a time of 22:15, while Taylor's Alli Abney finished sixth at 22:54.

BOYS RACE

Western looks to be in contention for the top spot on the boys side as well, fighting with Kokomo and Logan. Other teams capable of making noise for the top spot include Cass, Maconaquah, and defending champ Winamac, according to Kats coach Ricke Stucker.

"There could be only 45 points separating first through sixth. I expect us to be in sixth, unfortunately," said Stucker, who noted that he will be without his No. 3 runner for the meet.

Panther senior Josh Everetts finished fourth in last years sectional in a time of 16:33, finishing behind a trio of seniors. He'll be looking for a top finish after taking first in last week's HC meet with a time of 16:47.

"Individually, Everetts is the guy to beat, and No. 2 is Cail Brown from Lewis Cass," Jewell said. "That will be an interesting matchup after going at it last Saturday."

Brown was second at 16:48 in the HC meet. He was fifth overall (17:02) in last year's sectional.

Andrew Granfield, Alex Taylor and Tyler Lechner are all back for Western from last year's sectional squad, while Zach Zents rounds out the Panthers' top five.

"We're going to be in the mix of the top three, I just don't know where for sure," Jewell said. "I think Lewis Cass is another team up there. They look pretty good and then maybe Maconaquah with two strong individuals in Tyler Dietzel and Adam Rood. Josh Reprogle from Eastern and Spencer Hutchens from Northwestern should be up there."

The Braves' Rood was eighth (17:46) in last year's sectional while Dietzel finished 11th (17:52). Dietzel was sixth in the Three Rivers Conference meet (17:50) while Rood placed 13th (18:14).

Max White led Kokomo with a 17:26 14th-place finish at last week's NCC meet. He was 15th (18:03) in last year's sectional. Cory Dea was 17th (17:39) in the conference meet.

Reprogle finished 14th (19:01) for the Comets at the HHC meet while Hutchens was 29th at 19:01 for Northwestern in the HC meet.