NorthWood’s trio of (from left) Whitney Wolfe, Kate Jarvis and Erica Stutsman look to lead NorthWood to the regional round at this weekend’s Elkhart Central Cross Country Sectional. (Photos by Mike Deak)

All those scorching summer workouts, the extra miles on weary legs, the convincing that it was all a good idea. Cross country’s second season arrived last week with conference meets across the Hoosier state, and now the state tournament can officially begin, starting with this weekend’s sectional series.

The area will have several sites hosting sectionals, the Ink Free News coverage area focusing on the sectionals at Culver Academy and Elkhart Central at Ox Bow Park.

The Academy sectional has been academic for the past five years with the inclusion of Warsaw. The Tiger boys and girls teams have done nothing but win titles since the state moved Warsaw from Elkhart to Culver. The 2017 version of both teams look primed to continue that trend, the boys coming off a surprise blowout win at the Northern Lakes Conference Championships and the girls loaded with depth that few teams in the sectional can match.

Warsaw’s restructured lineup on the boys side saw Lucas Howett become the ace, and he didn’t disappoint with a top-five run at the NLC. But accompanying runs from Taylor Mills and Xavi Ramirez gave Warsaw a fantastic top three, and its four through seven were all impressive as well.

“I’d be lying if I said we weren’t looking ahead to New Prairie (semi-state), but we know we still have some work to do,” said Warsaw boys coach Jim Mills. “It’ll be interesting. We go from the Culver Invite (Sept. 23), to the NLC, with big crowds at both, then go to the sectional and it’s like no one is there. The times aren’t our focus at Culver, it’s getting one through four coming in one after the other. That’s what will get us to state, that consistency.”

Howett could challenge for another top five at CMA, but would have to turn in a time outside his norm as Caston’s Mitchell Rans is likely the favorite to win the meet. The Caston star has won just about everywhere he has competed this year, and should be prepping for a run at a state podium finish. Rochester’s Thomas Rohr is another one to watch, and never count out the Academy on its home course.

The Lady Tigers are led by Mia Beckham, coming off her third straight NLC title last weekend at Ox Bow. Warsaw finished second to Northridge at conference, but shouldn’t be terribly worried coming in looking to repeat its team title. Rochester has the top-end runners in Kelsey Tyler and Sarah Rohr to steal some top points, but not the depth to catch Warsaw. The abilities of Emma Bohnenkamper, Taylor Gunter, Remi Beckham and Carmen Yoder, along with Angie Vijil-Sanchez, make Warsaw tough once again.

Tippecanoe Valley’s Jace Honeycutt hopes to cross the line in a regional position at this weekend’s Culver Academy Cross Country Sectional.

“In year’s past, we could pack in most of the girls in the top 12, but I don’t think we’ll have that luxury this year,” Warsaw girls coach Matt Campbell said. “We are going to train hard these next couple weeks. It’s go time.”

Keep an eye on Manchester’s Jaelyn Webb. Having run in the shadows of Rae Bedke last year, Webb has stepped forward for the Lady Squires and emerged as a legit contender week to week. Triton’s Baylee McIntire and Briana Wilhite could also grab ribbons and regional positions.

At Ox Bow, the race for the top team spot in the boys race could be very interesting. Concord, Northridge and Wawasee all finished within three points of one another in the NLC race last weekend, while Goshen was 19 behind Wawasee with the top runner in the conference in Felix Perex Diener. Toss in Elkhart Central and Elkhart Memorial into the mix, and the team race likely will be wide open and come down to pack times.

Wawasee has gotten decent showings from its pack, along with quality runs from its front two studs in Spencer Hare and Luke Griner. Hare was the runner-up to Perez Diener last Saturday but has shown the ability to win races, Griner the ability to place top-five if pushed. Michael Hammer has emerged as a quality three for the Warriors.

“The sectional is really tight, and adding in Elkhart Central with the NLC teams, who knows,” said Wawasee boys coach Chad Hoffert. “It’s been a really crazy year. You could be first or second, or finish sixth and be out. It just comes down to who wants it and who competes.”

The Lady Warriors don’t have any aspersions of catching Northridge for the girls title, but feel they can take a top-five team spot and move onto the regional, which will also be at Ox Bow Oct. 14. Coach Doug Slabaugh has noted Ridge and Concord are likely out of reach because of their frontline talent, but the Lady Warriors will have to keep pace with NorthWood, Elkhart Central and Memorial to take one of the other three spots. Both NorthWood and Memorial beat Wawasee head-to-head during the season and at the conference meet. Memorial’s Morgan Dyer comes in as the girls to beat, racing with Beckham for honors at the NLC last week.

“We just have to want it,” Slabaugh said. “Our three through six were as close (at NLC) as they have been all season. All within 10 seconds. We know who we need to beat if we want a chance, and we have to try to catch them if we want to go to regionals.”

Kenzie Smith will lead Wawasee, with their hopes leaning on the likes of Caitlin Wortinger, Aubrey Kuhn and Reagan Atwood for a quality pack march.

NorthWood is in an interesting position in the girls race, with Erica Stutsman a legit frontrunner who will challenge for the race title. But the fortunes of the Panthers moving on rest on how Kate Jarvis, Whitney Wolfe, Jen Martinez and either Hannah Brubaker or Breanne Resler fare in the crowd. If they pull ahead of the mid-race traffic, the Panthers should be fine to advance to regionals.