DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
The opening five kilometers of the season were run in just about the hottest conditions imaginable Saturday at Norwell, but Adams Central’s Ethan Crockett was able to hang with the top runners in the field, finishing fourth to lead the local contingent with a time of 17:57.9.
The 15-team field was dominated by Lakewood Park Christian and Norwell, but there were positives galore for the two Adams County teams.
The Bellmont Braves welcomed in several new members to the team, initiating them to the world of high school cross country with the sweltering heat. Junior Gavin Braun ran his five kilometers with his new teammates, then managed to make it to Blackford to compete in the soccer scrimmage with his old teammates later in the afternoon. Braun’s first time was third best on the team.
Bellmont sophomore Landon Sielschott, a convert to the XC world from soccer, was sixth on the team in under 21 minutes in his first high school 5K.
Hayden Whittenbarger, the Bellmont leader in 2025, was within 22 seconds of his time last season, while the Braves’ #2, Maddux Miller, was nearly a minute faster. Coach Randy Hisner’s hopes of having a real 1-2 punch heading into this season seem to be coming to fruition.
Cole Gerber and Preston Hoffman both entered the AC varsity lineup and registered top-four times for the Jets. Crockett’s time was already 20 seconds faster than his opening 5K last August. Tyler Schwartz also registered a very large cut in his time from a year ago – perhaps an omen to a strong Adams Central team this year.
The Bellmont Braves will train for another week and prepare for their annual trip to the source of the St. Marys in Celina, while Adams Central will trade running alongside Bellmont for a meet involving South Adams at Taylor.
Team Scores: 1st-Lakewood Park Christian 53, 2nd-Norwell 78, 3rd-Hart 83, 4th-Bluffton 93, 5th-New Haven 112, 6th-Bellmont 122, 7th-Adams Central 204, 8th-Eastbrook 208, 9th-Garrett-208, 10th-Alexandria Monroe 303, 11th-Blackhawk Christian 312
Top 10 Individuals
1. Zander Ritenour-Lakewood Park Christian 16:34.1
2. Bryan Garcia-New Haven 16:43.1
3. Caiden Petrie-Norwell 17:49.2
4. Ethan Crockett-Adams Central 17:57.9
5. Gage Reinhard-Norwell 18:07.2
6. Jake Dulin-Lakewood Park Christian 18:22.2
7. Maddux Thornton-Norwell 18:23.9
8. Jackson Rockwell-Bluffton 18:26.6
9. Caleb VandeVelde-Lakewood Park Christian 18:26.8
10. Kellen Warner-Lakewood Park Christian 18:30.1
Bellmont Times: 12th-Hayden Whittenbarger 18:32.5, 13th-Maddux Miller 18:32.7, 31st-Gavin Braun 19:37.8, 32nd-Logan Whitacre 19:41.3, 34th-Hudson Krull 19:50.6
Adams Central Times: 4th-Ethan Crockett 17:57.9, 35th-Tyler Schwartz 19:52.9, 44th-Cole Gerber 20:44.5, 59th-Preston Hoffman 22:42.8, 62nd-Trevor Chamberlain 23:24.5
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