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DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
UPLAND – For the first time in Adams Central High School history, the girls cross country team won a sectional title after the duo of Madison Gerber and Gabi Landis (pictured below) finished in the top five individually and the Jets finished 32 points ahead of runner-up Monroe Central.
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The new format, combined with the experience of their top two runners and the difficult weather conditions all contributed to the biggest day in program history. The Jets got a standout performance from Addison Gilbert, as well, with a top-ten performance of her own.
Alyssa Fruechte and Madison Hamilton rounded out the scoring for the winning Jets.
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Individually, there was no contest in the race as Delta’s Nicki Southerland has been on a different level as a runner for years and is likely the favorite to be this year’s state champ after finishing second at state last season. She finished the race in 17:31.8, two minutes and 17 seconds ahead of Eastbrook freshman Alayna Bruckner, who was second.
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Norwell also advanced to next week’s regional as a team with a third-place finish, just finishing behind Monroe Central by four points.
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Adalynn Watson, Nia Litwller and Aleena Bierbaum all made it out for South Adams and will have another week to train for the regional at the Plex in Fort Wayne.
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For Bellmont, Keeley Carpenter advanced to the regional with 11 seconds to spare.
Carpenter’s time was a few seconds slower than she had run on the same course last weekend, but the conditions were quite different, noted head coach Carl Risch.
Risch also noted that it was the first time in her career that Carpenter had qualified for regional. She just missed out last season as a junior.
The Braves were without their top runner, Abigail Rudy, who was in a walking boot this week and unable to compete.
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Team Scores
1. Adams Central 59
2. Monroe Central 91
3. Norwell 95
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4. Eastbrook 121
5. Wapahani 150
Other Scores: 6th-South Adams 161, 9th-Bellmont 215, 12th-296, 13th-301
Places and Times
(*-advancing to Regional as individual)
*1. Nicki Southerland-Delta 17:31.8
4. Madison Gerber-Adams Central 20:05.7
5. Gabi Landis-Adams Central 20:11.9
*8. Allie Clamme-Blackford 20:48.2
9. Addison Gilbert-Adams Central 20:53.0
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10. Ashley Waldman-Norwell 20:53.8
*12. Adalynn Watson-South Adams 20:56.3
13. Elizabeth Norris-Norwell 21:07.1
*14. Haileigh Allen-Randolph Southern 21:12.9
*15. Allie Black-Randolph Southern 21:19.4
16. Brooklyn Meyer-Norwell 21:20.3
*17. Alexis Silbray-Jay County 21:20.5
18. Haleigh Reinhard-Norwell 21:29.3
*19. Erica Grubbs-Winchester 21:36.9
20. Alyssa Fruechte-Adams Central 21:37.2
*21. Ava Jefferis-Union City 21:44.6
22. Madison Hamilton-Adams Central 21:58.1
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*25. Kylee Robles-Delta 22:07.3
*26. Ava Cook-Wapahani 22:22.5
*27. Nia Litwiller-South Adams 22:21.9
*28. Lilly Neal-Wapahani 22:22.5
*30. Dakota Lee-Bluffton 22:30.1
*31. Keeley Carpenter-Bellmont 22:31.5
32. Josie Shoaf-Adams Central 22:35.9
*33. Mariah Manning-Winchester 22:42.7
*34. Aleena Bierbaum-South Adams 22:50.1
36. Madison Witte-Bellmont 22:54.8
39. Addison Meyer-Norwell 23:06.2
41. Alana Cady-Norwell 23:12.0
43. Ayla Loshe-South Adams 23:18.1
46. Bre Feasel-Bellmont 23:25.2
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49. Ava Kinsey-South Adams 23:33.1
51. Bridget Juengel-Bellmont 23:48.8
53. Willow Hardy-Jay County 23:50.4
56. Lillian Garner-Bellmont 24:06.4
58. Shaylin McCray-Bellmont 24:09.4
59. Teagan Lesley-Norwell 24:19.0
62. Abby Jauregui-Adams Central 24:29.7
63. Alexis Leidig-Southern Wells 24:31.8