GOSHEN - The course wet and muddy, rain falling from the sky, Wawasee standout runner Rachel Stichter admitted she fell during Tuesday afternoon's sectional at Ox Bow Park.

The mud on her left knee confirmed it.

In reality, it was the rest of the field that got tripped up, as the Warrior junior cruised to her third straight individual sectional title, finishing in a time of 14:22.

The 19-second gap back to runner-up finisher Megan Jackson from Northridge only confirmed Stichter's dominance.

"The course was pretty slick," Stichter said. "I'm sure my time was slower. I fell down once, but I'm OK with it. I just don't think I got the time I wanted."

While Stichter ran away with the individual title, the same can be said for Northridge in the team competition.

With the top five runners from each squad counting toward the team score, the Raiders claimed spots second through eighth and scored 20 points.

Goshen was second with 63 points, followed by Wawasee (112), Elkhart Central (134), Concord (147), NorthWood (147), Warsaw (167), Elkhart Memorial (202), Fairfield (206) and Jimtown (232).

The top five teams and top 15 individuals advance to Saturday's regional at Ox Bow Park.

Ashlee Pollen was the second Wawasee runner to cross the line, finishing 18th with a time of 16:58. Jessica Lundgren was 24th (17:16), while Havilah Rensberger finished 27th (17:21), Meghan Lantz 43rd (18:10) and Brooke Mark 64th (19:16).

"All the girls but Rachel improved their time from the NLC," said Wawasee coach Grace Stichter, Rachel's aunt. "Rachel fell going around the corner, otherwise her time would have improved. They'll have to step it up to make it out of the regional but they know they have a shot and that's been their goal for this season."

Warsaw's season came to an end with a seventh-place finish.

Mitzi Dick led the Tigers with a 19th-place time of 16:59, missing a regional berth by four spots (13 seconds).

Jennifer Rietman was the second Warsaw competitor to finish, crossing the line with a 30th-place time of 17:40, while Megan DeRenzo was 35th (17:53), Jamie Grossnickle 39th (18:02), Lisa Gill 46th (18:14), Emily Tuggle 47th (18:16) and Elise Smolen 53rd (18:46).

As if it was instant replay - the only thing different being the gender - the boys race finished the same as the girls, with a Wawaseee Warrior winning the individual championship and Northridge running away with the team title.

Wawasee's Luke Stoffel made the winning pass at the 2-mile mark and then crossed the line in 16:10, finishing six seconds ahead or runner-up Ken Kollins of Northridge and 11 seconds ahead of Raider third-place runner Braxton Fritz.

Senior Ryan Holbrook led the Tigers with a fourth-place time of 16:49.

Northridge's top five runners all finished in the top 12, as the Raiders scored 33 team points.

Elkhart Memorial finished second with 65 points, followed by Warsaw (97), Wawasee (106), Goshen (113), Concord (152), Elkhart Central (160), NorthWood (218), Bethany Christian (285) and Jimtown (301).

Other finishers for third-place Warsaw included Kyle McNulty in 14th (17:30), Jacob Gall in 18th (17:41), Jeremy Blacburn 31st (18:06), Matt Campbell 32nd (18:07), Ryan Walker 45th (18:38) and Baxter Burnworth 51st (18:57).

To go with Stoffel's individual sectional championship, the Warriors got a ninth-place effort from John Adams (17:21), while Brian Stutzman was 24th (17:50), Matt Dunithan 35th (18:16), Jay Buyer 37th (18:18), David Slabaugh 40th (18:30) and Ryan Dunithan 52nd (19:22).

"I was really happy with how most of the guys ran," Wawasee boys coach Jerid Stoffel said. "They looked like they wanted it. The regional meet is going to be a challenge. The guys will have to step it up. I'm really proud of how they ran tonight though."

Both the Wawasee boys and girls teams, as well as the Warsaw boys team will be in action Saturday at Ox Bow Park in the regional.

ELKHART CENTRAL SECTIONAL

Ox Bow Park, Goshen

GIRLS

Team Scores - Northridge 20, Goshen 63, Wawasee 112, Elkhart Central 134, Concord 147, NorthWood 147, Warsaw 167, Elkhart Memorial 202, Fairfield 206, Jimtown 232

Girls Top 15 - 1. Rachel Stichter (Waw) 14:22, 2. Megan Jackson (NR), 3. Aimee Gingerich (NR), 4. Stephanie Swendsen (NR), 5. Jessie LaFree (NR), 6. Jamie Kruis (NR), 7. Darlene Garman (NR), 8. Vanessa Lantzer (NR), 9. Jenna Rozelle (G), 10. Zorina Keyser (G), 11. Michelle Steffen (NW), 12. Christina Trcka (G), 13. Lindsey Huang (EC), 14. Meagan Myers (Con), 15. Kendra Ellington (G)

Wawasee finishers - 1. Rachel Stichter 14:22, 18. Ashlee Pollen, 24. Jessica Lundgren, 27. Havilah Rensberger, 43. Meghan Lantz, 64. Brooke Mark

Warsaw finishers - 19. Mitzi Dick 16:59, 30. Jenny Rietman, 35. Megan DeRenzo, 39. Jamie Grossnickle, 46. Lisa Gill, 47. Emily Tuggle, 53. Elise Smolen

BOYS

Team Scores - Northridge 33, Elkhart Memorial 65, Warsaw 97, Wawasee 106, Goshen 113, Concord 152, Elkhart Central 160, NorthWood 218, Bethany Christian 285, Jimtown 301

Boys Top 15 - 1. Luke Stoffel (Waw) 16:10. 2. Ken Collins (NR), 3. Braxton Fritz (NR), 4. Ryan Holbrook (War), 5. David Sabo (NR), 6. Bryce Matteson (EM), 7. Blaine McDowell (NW), 8. Brett Mravec (EM), 9. John Adams (Waw), 10. Daniel Schnaars (Con), 11. Nate Stewart (NR), 12. Ken Parks (NR), 13. Andy Williams (NR), 14. Kyle McNulty (War), 15. Calvin Walterhouse (EM)

Wawasee finishers - 1. Luke Stoffel 16:10, 9. John Adams, 24. Brian Stutzman, 35. Matt Dunithan, 37. Jay Buyer, 40. David Slabaugh, 52. Ryan Dunithan

Warsaw finishers - 4. Ryan Holbrook 16:49, 14. Kyle McNulty, 18. Jacob Gall, 31. Jeremy Blackburn, 32. Matt Campbell, 45. Ryan Walker, 51. Baxter Burnworth

Note - The top 5 teams and the top 15 individuals advance to Saturday's regional at Ox Bow Park. [[In-content Ad]]