SYRACUSE - The balance of power in girls track in the Northern Lakes Conference appears to be shifting.

In recent years, Wawasee has been the dominant team, finishing either first or second. But Wawasee, after losing the likes of state finalists Alysha Aalbregtse and Mandy McGuire, could find the route to the top in the conference tougher this year.

Especially if Wednesday is any indication.

Wawasee opened its 1998 NLC season yesterday by hosting and losing to NorthWood 76-47. NorthWood moved to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the NLC. Wawasee fell to 4-1 overall and 0-1 in the NLC.

Plain and simple, the NorthWood sprinters ran the Warriors right off their home track. The Panthers ruled the 100-meter dash, 200 and 100 hurdles.

NorthWood's Kelli Andrews and Lindsay Carlin finished first and second in the 100. Andrews, Carlin and Pam Hyde took first, second and third in the 200. Grace Bonewitz, Jen Anderson and Tina Cerame placed first, second and third in the 110 hurdles.

The Panthers took eight of the top nine places in those three events.

"We're fortunate to have some speed this year," NorthWood coach Kirt Hunsberger said. "This is a meet where we figured out sprinters would have it easier than our distance runners."

Reason being, just on Monday, NorthWood competed against John Glenn in miserable, rainy weather. When the girls weren't on the track, they were in the bus. Hunsberger figured that day would take more of a toll on NorthWood's distance runners against Wawasee.

Hunsberger's predictions rang true in the mile run. NorthWood freshman Cort Sandy led the race almost the entire way, until defending NLC mile champion Alisha Henderson overtook her at the last bend in the last lap to win.

"Cort Sandy ran tough with the returning NLC champion in the mile," Hunsberger said. "Once she gets a little more rested, it should be a whale of a race when they meet again in the conference tournament."

NorthWood, which won 11 of 15 events, figures to be one of three teams battling for the top spot in the NLC.

"We've got all but three points per meet back from last year," Hunsberger said. "We have a good nucleus back, good seniors. We've taken the first step, but we know Concord and Northridge will be tough."

NORTHWOOD 77, WAWASEE 46

3,200 relay -Ê1. Wawasee (Kassie Biddle, Alisha Henderson, Alison Morgan, Katie McCauley) 10:49.4, 2. NorthWood

100 hurdles - 1. Grace Bonewitz (NW) :15.76, 2. Jen Anderson (NW), 3. Tina Cerame (NW)

100 - 1. Kelli Andrews (NW) :12.9, 2. Lindsay Carlin (NW), 3. Katie Brown (W)

discus - 1. Adria Almager (NW) 108-10, 2. Sarah Losee (W), 3. Jill Van Bruene (NW)

1,600 - 1. Henderson (W) 5:40.4, 2. Cort Sandy (NW), 3. McCauley (NW)

400 relay - 1. NorthWood (Bonewitz, Carlin, Latt Bounmythavong, Andrews) :52.7, 2. Wawasee

high jump -Ê1. Shelly Stichter (NW) 5-0, 2. Staci Weisser (W), 3. Pam Hyde (NW)

400 - 1. Erica Auker (W) 1:06.8, 2. Kim Reuter (W), 3. Angie Callander (NW)

300 hurdles -Ê1. Bonewitz (NW) :51.1, 2. Kimber Chang (W), 3. Brown (NW)

800 - 1. McCauley (W) 2:36.6, 2. Sandy (NW), 3. Biddle (W)

200 - 1. Andrews (NW) :27.1, 2. Carlin (NW), 3. Hyde (NW)

shot put - 1. Natalie Nunemaker (NW) 32-2, 2. Michelle Lamb (W), 3. Van Bruene (NW)

3,200 - 1. Brooke Tobias (NW) 12;15.3, 2. Megan Hoffman (W), 3. Henderson (W)

long jump - 1. Bounmythavong (NW) 16-4, 2. Brown (W), 3. Weisser (W)

1,600 relay - 1. NorthWood (Bonewitz, Hyde, Jess Yoder, Callander) 4:27.1, 2. Wawasee

JV: NORTHWOOD 44, WAWASEE 38

1,600 relay - 1. NorthWood (Shelly Stichter, Tina Cerame, Teri Schuller, Steph Carner) 4:47.9, 2. Wawasee

3,200 relay - 1. Wawasee (members and time not available), 2. NorthWood

100 hurdles - 1. Kim Yoder (NW) :17.17, 2. Casie Glassburn (W), 3. Kimber Chang (W)

100 - 1. Keshia Hunt (W) :13.87, 2. Alena List (W), 3. Dana Carr (W)

discus - 1. Amy Francis (W) 76-4, 2. Natalie Nunemaker (NW), 3. Jackie Stanton (W)

1,600 - none

400 relay - 1. Wawasee (Hunt, Michelle Lamb, Carr, Viki Hunziker) :59.4

400 - 1. Rebecca Teatru (NW) 1:13.3, 2. Nicki Sauer (NW), 3. Jill Mock (W)

high jump - 1. Carner (NW) 4-8, 2. Staci Weisser (W), 3. Pam Hyde (NW)

200 - 1. Yoder (NW) :30.1, 2. Hunt (W), 3. Dawn Huff (NW)

shot put -Ê1. Almager (NW) 28-2 1/4, 2. Stanton (W), 3. Francis (W)

3,200 - 1. Krista Bestul (W) 14:58.0

1,600 relay - none

long jump - 1. Angie Beer (W) 14-8, 2. Cerame (NW), 3. Callander (NW)

300 hurdles - 1. Jen Anderson (NW) :55.0, 2. Cerame (NW)

800 - 1. Mandie Sawyer (W) 2:42.2, 2. Carner (NW), 3. Allison Morgan (W) [[In-content Ad]]