WINAMAC – Just five days ahead of the first Hoosier North Athletic Conference cross country championships, Winamac sent a direct message to the rest of the conference. In a pair of decisive wins against Triton Tuesday afternoon at its home course – the site of this weekend’s races – the Warriors are primed to contend for the titles.

Winamac defeated Triton 16-53 in the boys race and knocked off Triton 21-35 in the girls race. LaVille only had four runners for each team and did not have a full team score.

The girls race was an interesting showcase of two of the conference’s top runners as Claire Collins of Winamac and Baylee McIntire of Triton squared off. Collins would navigate her home course to a winning time of 20:32, leaving McIntire a minute behind at 21:23. Sliding in between was Winamac’s Lilly Linch at 21:22, catching McIntire at the line. Jayden Scott was fourth for Winamac at 21:47.

Triton’s runners rounding the list were Michaela Best (6, 23:57), Abigail Powell (7, 24:53), Aimee Gladieux (8, 25:05) and Alysha May (11, 26:38).

The boys race did not have nearly the competition. Winamac took the top four spots in the race, led by Kyle Collins at 17:31.1. The Warrior ace has been the top runner for the team and one of the finer runners in the area this year. Zen Zupin ran with Collins to provide a formidable punch at the top, with Collins at the line in step with Zupin’s 17:31.3. Michael Beckner finished third at 17:37 and Brayden Tankersley was fourth at 17:51.

Triton’s Bailey Watkins was fifth at 17:58, unable to keep pace with the Winamac lead pack.

Shaun Honeycutt (8, 19:19), Brenden Ray (12, 21:28), Brock Watkins (13, 21:29) and Jeremiah Goodrich (15, 24:31) rounded out Triton’s times in the boys race.

“All of our girls ran well,” began Triton cross country head coach Blake Schori. “The course at Winamac is a road course, so it is very fast.

“My expectations for Baylee on Saturday is to crack the top five individually, and I think she could even do as well as second or third overall. As far as a team finish, I am looking for my girls to finish in the top half of the field. The boys team also ran well tonight.

“My expectations for Bailey are to crack the top ten individually, but l think he could finish as high as sixth. For a team, I again would like the boys to finish in the top half of the field.”

Winamac will host the HNAC Cross Country Championships Saturday. The 10 a.m. girls race will be followed by the 10:40 a.m. boys race at Winamac Town Park.