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GOSHEN - Now in what is oftentimes known as the survive and advance part of the season, Wawasee's boys and girls and Warsaw's boys cross country teams did just that Tuesday in the Elkhart Central Sectional at Ox Bow Park.
Wawasee senior Rachel Stichter did more than just survive, winning her fourth straight individual regional title.
Stichter, who Thursday won her fourth straight Northern Lakes Conference title at Ox Bow Park, ran a time of 14:08 in the sectional en route to sweeping the individual title her four years at Wawasee High School.
Stichter finished 19 seconds ahead of runner-up Megan Jackson of Northridge and 59 seconds ahead of third-place finisher Jessie LaFree, also of Northridge.
"They're all pretty special," said Wawasee coach Grace Stichter, Rachel's aunt, when asked how special winning the sectional four straight years is. "It's special to me, but I just want to get her ready for the next race. We don't look at it like she's won it four years in a row, we just want to take it one race at a time. She's worked hard. She's a good kid, she deserves this."
The top five teams and top 15 individuals from Tuesday's sectional advance to Saturday's regional at Ox Bow Park.
With a fourth-place team score of 109 points, Stichter's Wawasee teammates also will participate in the regional Saturday.
Northridge, ranked second in the state poll, won the sectional team championship in convincing style. The Raiders' five scoring runners finished second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth for a score of 20 points.
Elkhart Central was second with 79 points, followed by Concord (107), Wawasee (109), Goshen (128), Elkhart Memorial (134), Warsaw (164), NorthWood (172), Elkhart Christian Academy (268), Fairfield (310) and Jimtown (310).
Catherine Giltner was the second Warrior to cross the line, finishing the 4,000-meter race in a time of 16:13.
Warsaw's girls squad didn't advance as team after finishing sixth, but will be represented at Saturday's regional by sophomore Lindsay Houvener, who finished 12th in a time of 16:14.
"We knew coming in that we were a big long shot to get in the top five," said Warsaw girls coach Jerry Gackenheimer. "Our goal was to get Lindsay Houvener in the top 15 and have everyone else run strong, and we did that. We accomplished our goals."
Houvener accomplished her goal of advancing to the regional in just her first year of high school cross country competition.
"She's a competitor," said Gackenheimer. "She knew what she had to do. She kept track of the other runners and did what she had to do."
In the boys race, Wawasee's team advanced to the regional after finishing fourth Tuesday with 121 points.
Warsaw's boys team took the fifth and final advancing spot by scoring 136 points.
Like the girls race, the Northridge boys won in convincing fashion, scoring 24 points.
Elkhart Memorial was second with 65 points, followed by Goshen (78), Wawasee (121), Warsaw (136), Elkhart Central (156), Fairfield (197), Elkharth Christian Academy (207), Concord (249), Jimtown (273), NorthWood (318) and Bethany Christian (326).
Ryan Smythe led the Warrior boys with a sixth-place time of 16:45, while teammate John Adams was 15th in a time of 17:25.
Matt Campbell led the Tigers with a 16th-place time of 17:26, one second ahead of teammate Kyle McNulty and four seconds ahead of teammate Baxter Burnworth, who finished 20th.
ELK. CENTRAL SECTIONAL
Girls team scores - Northridge 20, Elkhart Central 79, Concord 107, Wawasee 109, Goshen 128, Elkhart Memorial 134, Warsaw 164, NorthWood 172, Elkhart Christian Academy 268, Fairfield 310, Jimtown 310, Bethany Christian (incomplete)
Girls top 15 individuals - 1. Rachel Stichter (Wawa) 14:08, 2. Megan Jackson (NR) 14:27, 3. Jessie LaFree (NR) 15:07, 4. Aimee Gingerich (NR) 15:20, 5. Lynn Pezzanite (NR) 15:37, 6. Stephanie Swendsen (NR) 15:43, 7. Brittany Booth (EC) 15:47, 8. Aubree Draper (NR) 16:01 9. Erin Zimmerman (Gosh) 16:03, 10. Vanessa Lantzer (NR) 16:04, 11. Catherine Giltner (Wawa) 16:13, 12. Lindsay Houvener (War) 16:14, 13. Carolyn Burt (EC) 16:14, 14. Dora Walterhouse (EM) 16:15, 15. Jessica Scott (Con) 16:19
Wawasee finishers - 1. Rachel Stichter 14:08, 11. Catherine Giltner 16:13, 27. Ashlee Pollen 17:03, 30. Havilah Rensberger 17:12, 40. Danyl Wallace 17:36, 52. Abby Gilbert 18:05, 53. Katie Hasse 18:08
Warsaw finishers - 12. Lindsay Houvener 16:14, 34. Katie Furnivall 17:24, 36. Laura McNulty 17:27, 37. Ashley Henry 17:31, 45. Emily Tuggle 17:56, 51. Elise Smolen 18:04, 54. Jennifer Rietman 18:09'
Boys teams scores - Northridge 24, Elkhart Memorial 65, Goshen 78, Wawasee 121, Warsaw 136, Elkhart Central 156, Fairfield 197, Elkhart Christian Academy 207, Concord 249, Jimtown 273, NorthWood 318, Bethany Christian 326
Boys top 15 individuals - 1. Braxton Fritz (NR) 16:10, 2. Ken Collins (NR) 16:14, 3. Brett Mravec 16:19, 4. Bryce Matteson (EM) 16:28, 5. Ladd Mercer (NR) 16:37, 6. Ryan Smythe (Wawa) 16:45, 7. Andy Williams (NR) 16:47, 8. Jordan Stanfill (Gosh) 16:56, 9. Loren Spirito (NR) 17:00, 10. Calvin Walterhouse (EM) 17:13, 11. David Murto (Gosh) 17:17, 12. Ryan Stockbridge (EC) 17:17, 13. Brock Wappes (NR) 17:20, 14. Jacob Shelly (Gosh) 17:24, 15. John Adams (Wawa) 17:25
Wawasee finishers - 6. Ryan Smythe 16:45, 15. John Adams 17:25, 22. Doug Slabaugh 17:35, 38. Scott Gingerich 18:06, 40. Jared Wurtzel 18:12, 43. Austin Hasse 18:20, 47. Seth Blakeslee 18:31
Warsaw finishers - 16. Matt Campbell 17:26, 17. Kyle McNulty 17:27, 20. Baxter Burnworth 17:31, 39. Alf Eherenman 18:07, 50. Steve Robinson 18:35, 56. William Olds 18:51
