Sectional 14 - Terre Haute
Boys Race
Photo by Emily Krizmanic
Despite rain from the past few days the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country course appeared to be in fair condition with the course mostly being dry with a few slick spots. The boys began the day where Greencastle's Landon Miller established a comfortable lead by the mile. Jcim Grant from Northview and Ethan Aidoo from Terre Haute South Vigo would be the next closest competition as they broke away from the rest of the pack as they made their way back up the winding hills at LaVern. Landon would continue his lead all the way to the finish where he would win the individual championship with a time of 16:01.1. Landon would also be the top individual advancing not on a team from this sectional. Jcim and Ethan would finish together down the final stretch with Jcim edging out Ethan with times of 16:35.5 and 16:36.9 respectively.
The team race was an extremely tight one between Terre Haute South Vigo and Northview. These two teams placed 10 runners in the top 15 with Terre Haute South edging out Northview by 4 points with a score of 38-42. This was Terre Haute South's first title since 2018 and 12th overall in school history. Other teams qualifying for next week's Regional Championship action included South Putnam, Clay City, and Terre Haute North Vigo. Greencastle was the first team out despite Landon's effort being a low stick for the team.
Watch race videos and awards videos from the Terre Haute sectional
Girls Race
Photo by Emily Krizmanic
The girls race saw Northview teammates Gnister Grant and Ellia Hayes breaking away from the pack early and never looking back. They would continue to expand their lead as they made their way back up the course and into the long final stretch. In the final meters of the race Ellia would put in a surge to pass her teammate for the individual championship by 0.2 seconds. Their finishing times would end up being 19:28.0 and 19:28.2 respectively. Colleen Bossnack from Greencastle would be the next finisher and the top individual advancing not on a team with a time of 21:04.6
Ellia and Ginister going 1-2 as well as having two other girls in the top 8 allowed Northview to run away with the team's 5th consecutive sectional championship and win by 33 points with a score of 25 points. Behind, Terre Haute South was able to hold off Terre Haute North for runner-up. It was a tight competition for the final 2 advancing team spots with West Vigo and Sullivan punching their tickets for Regionals with 140 points and 158 points respectively. Just missing out was Owen Valley, South Putnam, and Clay City with scores of 161 points, 168 points, and 175 points.
Watch race videos and awards videos from the Terre Haute sectional