Warsaw Community High School boys cross country team returns six of its top seven runners from a 2011 squad that finished 15th at the Indiana State Cross Country Meet. To make it even sweeter for Coach Jim Mills, the Tigers have depth behind their top seven. Eighteen of the twenty runners on last year's team have come back for 2012 and a chance at a top ten finish. Mills says this year's group is one of the best teams they have had in a while led by senior Jacob Poyner and junior Ellis Coon.
Poyner was the team's top placer at the state meet finishing 61st. He had a season best time of 15:50.70 which ranks him as one of the top fifteen to twenty individuals returning in 2012. Coon has the second best returning time of 16:26.00. Senior Robert Murphy the team's number three runner finished 102nd at the state meet last year and is an incredible story. Murphy is autistic and has seen tremendous improvement over the past three years. As a freshman he ran a 24:00 5K. Coach Mills says he is now running around 16:10 and he wouldn't be suprised to see him be in the fifteen minute range by the end of the season. Other returners include junior Ismael Calderon, sophomore Michael Compton, and senior Brysten James.
Several Tigers have had great track seasons.Elliss Coon placed 9th in the 1600 at the state meet running an impressive 4:13.72. Poyner finished one spot behind him in 10th with a time of 4:14.37. Poyner also ran 9:22.18 for 3200 meters at the Northern Lake Conference meet. Senior Robert Murphy has the second fastest returning time for 3200 meters by posting a 9:35.68 at the Goshen Sectional.
Poyner is the number one runner on this Warsaw team, but number two thru five are pretty close. If Poyner's performances can elevate the rest of the group, combined with the depth of this team, they have a great shot to improve on their 15th place showing in 2011, and crack the top ten in 2012.
Coach Mills Says...
"This team should go down as the best team in the history of Warsaw High School. We return 18 of our top 20 runners from last years 15th place finish in the state meet including our top six runners. We also have two freshman who ran 17:15 and 17:35 in our first meet of the season."
"Our team goal is to get on the podium at this years state meet. Our individual goal is to have three to four all-state runners. We feel both goals are realistic. We feel we have three front runners all who will be running in the 15's. We always key on New Prairie and Culver and also hope to defend our Freshman -Sophomore titles at both invites."
2012 Returner's Top Times
5K XC
| Warsaw Community High School | 599 | |||
| 1) Jacob Poyner | 15:50.70 | 15 | ||
| 2) Ellis Coon | 16:26.30 | 81 | ||
| 3) Robert Murphy | 16:40.50 | 140 | ||
| 4) Ismael Calderon | 16:51.00 | 181 | ||
| 5) Brysten James | 16:51.20 | 182 | ||
| Average Time: 16:31.94 -- Total Time: 1:22:39.70 -- 1-5 Split: 1:00.50 | ||||
| 6) Cam Hoskins | 16:59.60 | 209 | ||
| 7) Michael Compton | 17:06.60 | 252 | ||
Boys 3200 Meter Run |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 9:22.18 | Poyner, Jacob | Northern Lake Conference |
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| 9:35.68 | Murphy, Robert | IHSAA Boys Goshen Sectional |
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| 10:43.69 | Calderon, Ismael | Wawasee Tri |
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| 10:47.32 | James, Brysten | Wawasee Tri |
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Boys 1600 Meter Run |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 4:13.72 | Coon, Ellis | IHSAA State Championship |
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| 4:14.37 | Poyner, Jacob | IHSAA State Championship |
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| 4:29.68 | Murphy, Robert | Northern Lake Conference |
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| 4:42.03 | Houvener, Tyler | Wawasee Tri |
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| 4:42.72 | Calderon, Ismael | Wawasee Tri |
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| 4:58.62 | Messenger, Daniel | Wawasee Tri |
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