BOYS XC: Panthers run to title

Kokomo Tribune September 16, 2024

By Tribune Sports Staff

Led by individual champion Camden Raab, Western's boys cross country team won the 18-team Maconaquah Invitational Saturday with a score of 76 to outpace second-placed McCutcheon (98).

Northwestern was third (130), Lewis Cass fourth (137), Manchester fifth (163), Winamac sixth (170), Maconaquah seventh (176), Delta eighth (190), Twin Lakes ninth (193), Pioneer 10th (205), Northfield 11th (225), Eastern 12th (235) and Tipton 13th (325). Another five squads were incomplete.

Raab led the field of 138 runners in a time of 16:16.03. Also scoring for the Panthers: Miles Rudy in fourth (16:50.01); Maddox Carver 14th (17:45.6); Beck Bennett 25th (18:20.89); and Lincoln McKillip 32nd (18:46.85).

"At the two-mile mark, [Raab] was just a few steps ahead [Eastern's] Obi Greene when he threw down one of the hardest mid-race surges I think I've ever seen," Western coach Gary Jewell said. "In the next 275 meters he put nearly 10 seconds on second place and it widened to almost 20 over the last mile. I think the timing of his surge caught everyone by surprise.

"At the 2-mile mark we were only up four points, 83-87. Over the last mile we picked up seven places while McCutcheon lost 11. Lincoln McKillip was responsible for five of those places gained."

Mason Broeker led Northwestern, taking ninth in 17:08.12. Ryland Barnes was 18th (17:56.12), Isaac Everson 22nd (18:11.22), Kaden Herschberger 42nd (19:10.96), and Simon Murmann 44th (19:13.15).

"The boys are doing very well this season," NW coach Josh Perry said. "We know that we have more in the tank and are working hard to keep moving in the right direction."

Ben Jay led Cass as runner-up (16:35.8). Colton Copeland was 12th (17:35.08), Kaiden Hughes 16th (17:50.71), Curtis Henry 53rd (19:35.65), and Aiden Heavilon 69th (20:13.09).

Daylen Schrock was eighth to lead Maconaquah (17:04.2), Ari Schrock was 23rd (18:15.42), Joel Loshnowsky 29th (18:34.32), Jeffrey Wilson 64th (19:53.46), and Christian Colins 73rd (20:19.86).

Greene took sixth to lead Eastern (16:56.65). William Kuntz was 47th (19:15.16), Jakob Bertoline 50th (19:26.93), Trenton Smith 70th (20:14.56), and Gavin Sonafrank 115th (23:23.65).

Jaxsen Muncie was 15th to lead Tipton (17:45.92), Roland Yates was 68th (20:12.84), Ryan Hare 107th (23:03.74), Cyle Reily 124th (25:18:8), and Levi Maluck 130th (27:09.04).

Xander Snow was 63rd to lead Taylor (19:52.91) and Nathan Spray was 89th (21:19.94).

Tyler Gibson was 58th for TC (19:47.38).

GIRLS RACE

Maconaquah won the 16-team Maconaquah Invitational with a score of 43. Lewis Cass was second with 77, followed by Delta (97), Winamac (116), Manchester (121), McCutcheon (134), Northwestern (173), Rochester (181), Pioneer (207) and Eastern (269). Another six teams were incomplete.

The Braves packed all their runners in the top 15. Zoie Laber led Maconaquah, taking third in 20:11:09 with Lucy Loshnowsky taking seventh (21:01.34) Chloe Jordan ninth (21:02.5), Macie McManus 13th (22:00.42) and Samantha Jones 15th (22:05.06).

Cass' Aftin Griffin was the overall winner, covering the course in 19:09.89. There were 104 runners in the field. Hope Rush was eighth for the Kings (21:02.42), AnnaLeigh Hedrick 19th (22:29.86), Brystalin Gillem 26th (23:42.43), and Lillian Hammond 32nd (24:18.71).

Courtney Adams led Northwestern, finishing fifth (20:26.76), Meredith Kelly was 40th (25:06.09), Ashlyn Kelly 46th (25:38.32), Megan Broeker 58th (26:46.2), and Bella Winrotte 65th (27:51.88).

"The girls have gotten a lot better since the start of the season," NW coach Perry said. "We are looking forward to the big meets coming up at the end of the season. The girls have been working hard to try and move on from the sectional."

For Eastern, Marly Coan was 64th (27:51.04), Alivia Kinney was 72nd (28:31.3), Malia Shellnut 74th (29:07.16), Anna Groves 84th (31:42.04), and Zoey Sexton 92nd (33:54.19).

Addie Bunting led Tipton in 86th (32:10.51) and Gwen Nguyen was 100th (38:51.28).

Noelle Carpenter took 51st for TC (25:56.73).