Vikings Sweep Cross Country Meet
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Out of 12 cross country dates, Tippecanoe Valley hosts but two dual meets this season. The Vikings ensured they would go at least 1-1 by beating Manchester in Tuesday's meet.
Valley's boys won 17-43, while the girls beat Manchester 26-32.
The Vikings swept the top three spots in the boys' race, with Jerry Ross (18:17), Chris Lighter (19:01) and Ben Vanlaningham (19:12) taking first through third respectively.
Manchester's Lydia Flora won the girls' race with a time of 17:24, but Valley's Sara Zehr (18:30) and Sarah Kindig (18:46) took second and third.
"Compared to what (Manchester) has had over the years, they may be down a little, especially the boys," Valley coach Terry Screeton said. "The girls' race is always a tight race where the winner seems to alternate every year."
While Valley runners would not crowd the top 10 at an invitational with several teams -Êthe Viking girls finished next-to-last and the boys last at last week's Warsaw Invitational - Screeton said dual meets serve their role. At a dual meet, a runner can look at his place and feel good about it.
"We use meets like this as practice," he said. "A lot about running is in your mind. Meets like this can give a kid confidence."
Example number one, Chris Lighter, a transfer.
"I don't think he has ever finished second," Screeton said. "This gives him confidence."
In the girls' race, Zehr and Kindig pulled Valley through.
"They are coming on," Screeton said. "They ran a nice, strong race."
But Valley caused Screeton to worry early. At the mile marker of the girls' race, Manchester owned the top three spots.
"There's no way you can win if that happens," Screeton said.
Typically the girls on this year's Valley team have been stronger on the back end of races. Tuesday was no exception.
Zehr climbed into second and Kindig third by the time it finished.
Early on in the race Screeton jogged alongside Vanlaningham and barked, "Use the woods, Ben; use the woods."
Asked why Vanlaningham needed the woods and what he intended on using it for, Screeton said, "Use the woods to our advantage. We know where we're going and what lies ahead."
This may sound simplistic, but consider runners have been known to hurt their times by getting lost.
Ask James Kennedy.
Kennedy, who runs for Grace College, competed in Saturday's Anderson Invitational. A college race that featured Division II and III schools, Kennedy got lost on the course three times. But because Kennedy is so gifted as a runner, he still managed to win the race.
GIRLS: TIPPECANOE VALLEY 26
MANCHESTER 32
Results -Ê1. Lydia Flora (M) 17:24, 2. Sara Zehr (TV) 18:30, 3. Sarah Kindig (TV) 18:46, 4. Shay Knecht (M) 18:53, 5. Jill Kambs (M) 19:42, 6. Emily Jackson (TV) 20:15, 7. Kelly Allen (TV) 20:54, 8. Jennifer Yeiter (TV) 21:29, 9. Stephanie Tilden (TV) 21:46, 10. Amber Volk (M) 21:58, 11. Cari McFarren (TV) 22:13, 12. Milena Jakimiak (M) 23:06, 13. Frances Kantner (TV) 23:35, 14. Ashley Gearhart (TV) 24:05
BOYS: TIPPECANOE VALLEY 17
MANCHESTER 43
Results - 1. Jerry Ross (TV) 18:17, 2. Chris Lighter (TV) 19:01, 3. Ben Vanlaningham (TV) 19:12, 4. Derek Miller (M) 19:47, 5. Evan Boggs (TV) 20:00, 6. Mike Ross (TV) 20:04, 7. Thomas Penrod (M) 20:15, 8. Jeff Whetstone (TV) 20:19, 9. Ross Fawley (M) 20:39, 10. Scott Holbert (M) 21:46, 11. Kyle Williams (M) 22:50, 12. Nick Miller (TV) 24:03, 13. Aaron Robbins (TV) 24:34, 14. Karl Gast (TV) 25:44, 15. David Tilden (TV) 28:29, 16. Aaron Krueger (TV) 32:19 [[In-content Ad]]
Out of 12 cross country dates, Tippecanoe Valley hosts but two dual meets this season. The Vikings ensured they would go at least 1-1 by beating Manchester in Tuesday's meet.
Valley's boys won 17-43, while the girls beat Manchester 26-32.
The Vikings swept the top three spots in the boys' race, with Jerry Ross (18:17), Chris Lighter (19:01) and Ben Vanlaningham (19:12) taking first through third respectively.
Manchester's Lydia Flora won the girls' race with a time of 17:24, but Valley's Sara Zehr (18:30) and Sarah Kindig (18:46) took second and third.
"Compared to what (Manchester) has had over the years, they may be down a little, especially the boys," Valley coach Terry Screeton said. "The girls' race is always a tight race where the winner seems to alternate every year."
While Valley runners would not crowd the top 10 at an invitational with several teams -Êthe Viking girls finished next-to-last and the boys last at last week's Warsaw Invitational - Screeton said dual meets serve their role. At a dual meet, a runner can look at his place and feel good about it.
"We use meets like this as practice," he said. "A lot about running is in your mind. Meets like this can give a kid confidence."
Example number one, Chris Lighter, a transfer.
"I don't think he has ever finished second," Screeton said. "This gives him confidence."
In the girls' race, Zehr and Kindig pulled Valley through.
"They are coming on," Screeton said. "They ran a nice, strong race."
But Valley caused Screeton to worry early. At the mile marker of the girls' race, Manchester owned the top three spots.
"There's no way you can win if that happens," Screeton said.
Typically the girls on this year's Valley team have been stronger on the back end of races. Tuesday was no exception.
Zehr climbed into second and Kindig third by the time it finished.
Early on in the race Screeton jogged alongside Vanlaningham and barked, "Use the woods, Ben; use the woods."
Asked why Vanlaningham needed the woods and what he intended on using it for, Screeton said, "Use the woods to our advantage. We know where we're going and what lies ahead."
This may sound simplistic, but consider runners have been known to hurt their times by getting lost.
Ask James Kennedy.
Kennedy, who runs for Grace College, competed in Saturday's Anderson Invitational. A college race that featured Division II and III schools, Kennedy got lost on the course three times. But because Kennedy is so gifted as a runner, he still managed to win the race.
GIRLS: TIPPECANOE VALLEY 26
MANCHESTER 32
Results -Ê1. Lydia Flora (M) 17:24, 2. Sara Zehr (TV) 18:30, 3. Sarah Kindig (TV) 18:46, 4. Shay Knecht (M) 18:53, 5. Jill Kambs (M) 19:42, 6. Emily Jackson (TV) 20:15, 7. Kelly Allen (TV) 20:54, 8. Jennifer Yeiter (TV) 21:29, 9. Stephanie Tilden (TV) 21:46, 10. Amber Volk (M) 21:58, 11. Cari McFarren (TV) 22:13, 12. Milena Jakimiak (M) 23:06, 13. Frances Kantner (TV) 23:35, 14. Ashley Gearhart (TV) 24:05
BOYS: TIPPECANOE VALLEY 17
MANCHESTER 43
Results - 1. Jerry Ross (TV) 18:17, 2. Chris Lighter (TV) 19:01, 3. Ben Vanlaningham (TV) 19:12, 4. Derek Miller (M) 19:47, 5. Evan Boggs (TV) 20:00, 6. Mike Ross (TV) 20:04, 7. Thomas Penrod (M) 20:15, 8. Jeff Whetstone (TV) 20:19, 9. Ross Fawley (M) 20:39, 10. Scott Holbert (M) 21:46, 11. Kyle Williams (M) 22:50, 12. Nick Miller (TV) 24:03, 13. Aaron Robbins (TV) 24:34, 14. Karl Gast (TV) 25:44, 15. David Tilden (TV) 28:29, 16. Aaron Krueger (TV) 32:19 [[In-content Ad]]