BOYS XC: Panthers run to title

Kokomo Tribune August 26, 2024

By BRYAN GASKINS

Western's boys cross country team is hungry to regain the Logansport Sectional title that it last won in 2020. NW, Kokomo, Tipton, Western, Mac all win in boys soccer Tribune sports staff Aug 26, 2024

Western won the 22-team boys side of Logansport's Jacob Graf Memorial Invitational on Saturday, which featured 20 complete teams.

The Panthers put up a score of 122 to outdistance second-place Hamilton Heights (137), Lafayette Jeff (138) and Lewis Cass (141). Kokomo was sixth (185), Northwestern seventh (194), Maconaquah 11th (135), Tipton 15th (322), Eastern 16th (399), Peru 20th (491) and Carroll was incomplete. PHOTOS: Jacob Graf Memorial XC 1 of 42

Clinton Prairie's Hayden Kemple was the individual winner, cruising to victory by more than 30 seconds in a course-record 15:49.0. Camden Raab paced Western, taking third in 16:28.6. Cass' Ben Jay was fourth (16:47.1), Western's Miles Rudy fifth (16:48.9), Maconaquah's Daylen Schrock sixth (17:04.3), and Western's Maddox Carver gave the Panthers three runners in the top 10, taking 10th (17:11.6).

Also for Western, Beck Bennett was 42nd (18:51.9) and John Gilbert 64th (19:58.4).

"Putting three guys in the top 10 was monumental," Western coach Gary Jewell said. "We were the only team to do that and it proved to be the difference. Those single-digit scores are huge when you have a big differential between your first and fifth runners and you have a field as big as this one.

"Camden ran a great race. He wasn't content with his race Tuesday night [in the Northwestern Combination meet] so he walked in with a chip on his shoulder, like he had something to prove."

Mason Broeker led Northwestern, taking 14th in 17:35. Ryland Barnes was 28th (18:16), Isaac Everson 38th (18:47), Simon Murmann 48th (19:07) and Kaden Herschberger 69th (20:06).

"The boys all know we have more in the tank," NW coach Josh Perry said. "We ran a tough week of training and races twice in the same week. That definitely affected us but we are getting ready for the bigger meets later in the season. Mason Broeker ran well, running a personal best. He is approaching our top 25 all-time list that we keep records of. I'm excited to see which week he will join the exclusive club."

Cooper Cage led Kokomo, taking 15th (17:37.8). Jaxsen Muncie led Tipton in 20th (17:56.2).

Obi Greene led Eastern, taking 31st (18:22.1), followed by Jakob Bertoline (56th, 19:29.5), Trenton Smith (70th, 20:19.8), Parker Smith-McCombs (126th, 24:56.6), and Gavin Sonafrank (128th, 25:04.2).

"This was the team's first 5K race, and it's on our sectional course," Eastern coach Ben Cox said. "We were looking to set a starting point and it was a good experience for everyone. We see a lot of potential moving forward. Jakob was only six seconds from his PR, and this was the first-ever 5K race for several of the boys, so they'll improve just from experiencing more races."

Landen Emerson led Peru in 62nd (19:48.5). Noah Johnson led Carroll in 71st (20:21.1).

GIRLS RACE

Hamilton Heights won Logansport's 22-team Jacob Graf Memorial Invitational, pushing past Maconaquah with a score of 43. The Braves were second with 59, Western third (76), Lewis Cass fourth (124), Kokomo 10th

(256) and Eastern 13th (359). There were 13 complete teams. Peru, Northwestern and Carroll were among the incomplete teams.

Heights' Allie Bushey won in a time of 19:47.1. Cass' Aftin Griffin was second in 20:07.3. Maconaquah's Chloe Jordan was fourth (20:46.0). Western's Kendall DePoy was fifth (20:51.7), Northwestern's Courtney Adams was seventh (21:08.7) and Mac's Zoie Laber was eighth in 21:09.7 as Tribune-area runners took half the spots in the top 10.

Also for Northwestern, Meredith Kelly was 56th (25:07), Ashlyn Kelly was 83rd (28:04) and Megan Broeker was 87th (28:21).

"The girls are doing well this season," NW coach Perry said. "It's tough to have an incomplete team. We would be scoring fairly well if we had five runners. Meredith Kelly continued her great start with a three-minute personal best. She worked really hard all track season and over the summer. I am so happy to see it paying off for her."

Jillian Salts led Carroll in 23rd (22:58.2). Alaina Thompson led Kokomo in 40th (24:12.9). Bailey Butt led Carroll in 55th (25:06.7). Marly Coan led Eastern in 80th (27:57.2)