GOSHEN - Three area cross country teams competed in Saturday's Elkhart Central Regional at Ox Bow Park.
All three advanced to this weekend's New Haven Semistate, which will be held Saturday at IPFW at 1 p.m.Warsaw senior Erica Ridderman, who Tuesday won the girls 5,000-meter sectional race, led all area competitors with a second-place finish in a time of 18:54.
Bethany Christian's Ali Hochstetler, who finished second to Ridderman in the sectional race, got the upper hand on the Warsaw senior this time, passing her in the late stages of the race to win in a time of 18:50.
Warsaw junior Cendall Ogle finished fifth in a time of 19:06.
The top fives teams and top 15 individuals from Saturday's regional advanced to the New Haven Semistate.
Northridge won the girls championship with 58 points. Joining them at semistate are South Bend Riley (109), South Bend St. Joe (115), Mishawaka (115) and Warsaw 119.
Penn finished sixth at the regional with 121 points, followed by Goshen (135), Fairfield (154), Mishawaka Marian (217) and Bethany Christian (259).
Other scoring runners from Warsaw were Brooke Kline (19th, 20:04), Lilly Fleming (45th, 21:07) and Kayla Bixler (60th, 21:59).
Rounding out the lineup for the Tigers were Katie McNulty (64th, 22:18) and Sena Muta (71st, 23:24).
In the boys race, Warsaw advanced by finishing third with 109 points, while Wawasee will compete in the semistate after finshing fifth with 152 points.
Northridge claimed the boys regional championship with 42 points, followed by Concord (61), Warsaw (109), South Bend Riley (111) and Wawasee (152).
Competing at the regional but not advancing to the semistate were South Bend Clay (157), South Bend St. Joe (168), Elkhart Memorial (188) and Mishawaka Marian (213).
Northridge senior Andrew Albert won the boys' 5,000-meter race in a time of 16:04.
Nate West led the Warsaw boys with a 15th-place finishing time of 16:45, while Jeremiah Stichter was 24th in 17:00. Other Warsaw runners who figured into the five-man team score were Jordan Scroggs (27th, 17:06), Trevor Callahan (17:10) and Brian Donovan (37th, 17:21).
Rounding out the Warsaw lineup were Spencer Rheinhardt (68th, 18:10) and Ryan Connors (74th, 18:24).
Wawasee's Jose Mejia finished ninth in a time of 16:40, while Daniil Gardner turned in a personal-best time of 17:11 to finish 32nd. Adam Glandon also ran a personal-best time for Wawasee, finishing 43rd in 17:32.
Other runners for Wawasee included Luke Thompson (46th, 17:35), Matt Rensberger (47th, 17:38), Justin Krizman (66th, 18:09) and Kyle Denton (67th, 18:09).
(GIRLS)
Team scores - Northridge 58, S.B. Riley 109, S.B. St. Joe 115, Mishawaka 115, Warsaw 119, Penn 121, Goshen 135, Fairfield 154, Mishawaka Marian 217, Bethany Christian 259
Individual winner - Ali Hochstetler (Bethany Christian) 18:50
