BOYS XC: Nike Twilight

Kokomo Tribune October 7, 2024

By Tribune Sports Staff

NIKE TWILIGHT

Western ran in the Nike XC Town Twilight Meet at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course in Terre Haute. The Panthers took part in Open Race Section 2, which had 346 runners. There were 745 runners in the combined races.

"This was most likely the largest field we've ever been a part of in program history," Western coach Gary Jewell said. "Even though the first section had a larger field, our race was the deeper of the two."

Western placed 18th out of 39 teams in its division and 21st overall when the races were combined.

Max Kirby of Notre Dame of Peoria, Illinois, won Section 2 with a time of 15:47.1.

Camden Raab led Western and was fifth overall in 16:03.1.

"Camden ran a great race. He went to the front and stayed there," Jewell said. "He competed in a race similar to this on the Illinois State Finals course in Peoria this summer. His time was an all-time best for our program on this course."

The rest of Western's top five were: Miles Rudy (18th, 16:32.1); Maddox Carver (139th, 17:52.3); Beck Bennett (155th, 17:58.9); and Lincoln McKillip (227th, 18:36.1).

"Miles and Lincoln were really motoring over the last 1,600 meters. Between the two of them, they collected 23 runners," Jewell said.

Jewell said the highly competitive meet had its challenges, notably taking place after dark.

"With a field this large and it being after sunset, it can be difficult to judge just where you actually are. But, when we get to the regional level, that's exactly what we're likely to see," he said.