Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
TERRE HAUTE - Led by a fifth-place finish by sophomore Lauren Hardesty, Valparaiso placed four runners among the top 25 and won the Indiana high school girls cross country championship Saturday for the third straight year and the fifth time in the past six years.
The individual champion was senior Adele Mitchell of Fort Wayne Concordia, who finished six seconds ahead of Wawasee senior Rachel Stichter, the runner-up despite a stress fracture in her right foot. Freshman Alexandra Banfich of the Culver Academies was third.
Because of her foot injury, Stichter has only been able to run twice in the past two weeks.
"I'm very proud of Rachel today," said Wawasee coach Grace Stichter, Rachel's aunt. "Having only run twice in the last two weeks, her legs weren't in the running shape we had hoped, but you can't complain with runner-up in the state. Rachel was very thankful for all the support."
Stichter won every race she competed in this season except for the semistate and state meets, which she competed in with the foot injury and lost to Mitchell.
In her prep career, Stichter competed in the state meet four times, won the Northern Lakes Conference championship four times, the sectional four times, the regional four times and the semistate once.
Northridge, led by senior Braxton Fritz in 11th, won its first boys team championship, while junior Justin Roeder of Hamilton Southeastern claimed the individual crown in the meet on the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course
In the girls' meet, Valparaiso totaled 87 points. Westfield was second at 112, followed by Indianapolis Cathedral 123, Carmel 145 and Columbus North 155. Besides Hardesty, the Vikings also scored with her twin sister Amanda Hardesty in 16th, Andrea Kent in 18th, Ashlee Karp in 25th and Erica Johnson in 42nd.
Mitchell's winning time was 14 minutes, 34.5 seconds.
Penn's Laura Carr, ranked first in her senior class of 679, received the Indiana High School Athletic Association mental attitude award.
In the boys' meet, Ryan Byrne of North Harrison was the mental attitude winner and finished second, less than two seconds behind Roeder. Warren Central's DeSean Turner was third, and Frankfort's Scott Keeney took fourth.
Northridge, whose only other state championship was in girls softball in 1987, totaled 104 points to 131 for runner-up Carmel. Besides Fritz, Northridge's Ken Collins was 25th, Loren Spirito 35th, Andy Williams 57th and Ladd Mercer 69th.
Franklin Central placed third with 144 points, Fort Wayne Snider ended fourth with 147 and two-time defending state champion Columbus North was fifth with 152.
Girls team scores - Valparaiso 80, Westfield 112, Cathedral 123, Carmel 145, Columbus North 155, Northridge 170, Chesterton 204, Carroll (Allen) 208, Lawrence North 272, Penn 298, Culver Academy 298, Portage 300, Concordia 319, Silver Creek 351, Snider 370, Bloomington North 409, Homestead 427, Jasper 486, Bloomington South 560
Girls top 10 individuals - 1. Adele Mitchell (Concordia) 14:34.5, 2. Rachel Stichter (Wawasee) 14:40.6, 3. Alexanra Banfich (CGA) 14:43.4, 4. Sarah Kehe (Chesterton) 14:53.7, 5. Lauren Hardesty (Valpo) 14:57.5, 6. Megan Jackson (Northridge) 14:58.7, 7. Stephanie Greer (Roncalli) 14:59.5, 8. Maggie Bingham (Westfield) 15:06.8, 9. Chelsea Blanchard (Carroll) 15:07, 10. Kristina Krasich (Westfield) 15:09.3
Boys team scores - Northridge 104, Carmel 131, Franklin Central 144, Snider 147, Columbus North 152, Portage 202, Chatard 208, Hamilton Southeastern 223, Crown Point 263, Elkhart Memorial 273, Blackford 295, East Noble 300, Chesterton 337, Lafayette Jeff 340, Edgewood 344, Bloomington North 344, Bloomington South 372, Heritage Hills 384, Valparaiso 412, Evansville Mater Dei 469
Boys top 10 individuals - 1. Justin Roeder (Ham. Southeastern) 16:06.9, 2. Ryan Byrne (N. Harrison) 16;08.6, 3. De'sean Turner (Warren Central) 16:10.3, 4. Scott Keeney (Frankfort) 16:15, 5. Robert Moldovan (Northrop) 16:18, 6. Adam Settle (Franklin Central) 16:18, 7. Tim Siberk (Hammond Morton) 16:21.4, 8. Tony Krock (East Noble) 16:22.3, 9. Michael Disher (Southport) 16:23.9, 10. Micahel Pabody (Southport) 16:25.3
