It was a worst to first story for Indian Lake’s girls cross country team on Saturday after winning the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division title.
The Lady Lakers finished last in the league a year ago, but were able to win their first CBC title since 2002 and break a four-year winning streak by Northwestern.
“At the beginning of the season our goal was to win the CBC Mad River title and we were able to accomplish that,” said IL head coach Justin Metzger. “Our girls executed our race plan well and we were able to put some distance between us and Northwestern.
“All week we had talked about where we needed to place to beat Northwestern and Shawnee. We need to beat them next week to secure a spot in the regional meet.”
Jonathan Alder, ranked 13th in the Division II state poll, won the girls race with 24 points and took the Kenton Trail division title. Indian Lake was second overall and won the Mad River division title with 76 points. Bellefontaine finished sixth overall and was third in the KT with 150 points and Ben Logan came in seventh overall and fourth in the MR with 153 points.
The Laker girls championship performance was led by the duo of KaiLea Miller and Ella Wagner with top 11 finishes in a field of 84 runners. Miller placed 10th (20:57) and Wagner placed 11th (21:21), while top 25 finishes came from Elayna Richardson in 17th (21:52), Deborah Wells in 19th (21:56), Hannah Metzger in 23rd (22:12) and Chloe Sparks in 25th (22:19).
Also racing for Indian Lake were Carlie Nickel in 31st (22:45), Erika Wells in 36th (23:01), Rachel Wahl in 46th (23:45), Maggie Reese in 68th (26:19), Annie Braig in 72nd (27:18) and Andi Miller in 78th (28:26).
Montanna Buck and Sophie Adelsberger led the Chieftains girls with a pair of top 20 finishes. Buck finished in 18th (21:54) and Adelsberger was two spots back in 20th (21:56).
The rest of the Chieftain team saw Ella Reier in 29th (22:35), Aubrey Hudson in 48th (23:54), Zoey Rister in 57th (24:55), Olivia Eader in 70th (26:47) and Lilly Moody in 83rd (37:00).
The Raiders were highlighted by Dani Widmark who had the highest area finish in seventh place with a time of 20:47. Finishing in the top 60 were Mylee Boysel in 32nd (22:50), Kerry Copenhaver in 42nd (23:26), Malori Barnes in 47th (23:50), Kendra Kennedy in 49th (23:55), Libby Siefring in 56th (24:50) and Cora Watson in 58th (24:58).
Rounding out the Raiders were Allie Fay in 61st (25:21), Tori Miller in 65th (25:46), Sarah Folk in 67th (26:01), Madelyn Wagnild in 75th (27:49), McKenzee Roseburrough in 77th (28:06) and Kylie Fansler in 84th (38:42).
Bellefontaine, Ben Logan and Indian Lake all compete in the Division II district meet Saturday at Cedarville University.