ECI boys cross-country sectional preview: Top performers, breakout runners and team recaps
MUNCIE, Ind. — The cross-country postseason has arrived.
Four different venues will host the 16 teams in The Star Press' coverage area with several individuals and teams looking to make some noise heading into next week's regional action. Wapahani will look to repeat at triple-crown winners at a new venue, as the Delta sectional will take place a Taylor University this season. Several semistate qualifiers from a season ago will be looking to make another deep run the postseason this year.
Here's a look at this weekend's schedule along with a look back at how all the boys teams fared this season and plenty of names to keep an eye out for this Saturday:
Sectional information
Delta sectional (at Taylor University), 11:15 a.m.
Teams: Cowan, Daleville, Delta, Jay County, Monroe Central, Muncie Burris, Muncie Central, Union (Modoc), Wapahani, Wes-Del, Winchester, Yorktown, Randolph Southern, Union City
Pendleton Heights sectional, 10:45 a.m.
Teams: Shenandoah, Blue River, Alexandria Monroe, Anderson, Anderson Preparatory Academy, Elwood Community, Fishers, Frankton, Hamilton Southeastern, Lapel, Liberty Christian, Pendleton Heights,
Marion sectional (at Indiana Wesleyan), 11:15 a.m.
Teams: Blackford, Eastbrook, Huntington North, Madison-Grant, Marion, Mississinewa, Northfield, Oak Hill, Southern Wells, Southwood, Wabash
Connersville sectional, 11:15 a.m.
Teams: New Castle, Cambridge City Lincoln, Centerville, Connersville, Franklin County, Hagerstown, Northeastern, Richmond, Rushville Consolidated, Seton Catholic, Tri, Union County
Muncie Central
Performance: Fifth at North Central Conference
Top runners:
So. Hayden Bradford — All-NCC; PR of 17:06
Jr. Gabe Reynolds — All-NCC, Ethan Cheeseman champion; PR of 17:37
Jr. Daelin Green — PR of 17:37
Most improved runner: Senior Brandon Musick. He's taken on a leadership role as a senior and has shown improvements in each of his races this season.
From head coach Tacoma Archuleta: "This team has saw great improvement throughout the season with working together and working as one solid unit. These Bearcats come in everyday willing to work towards common goals and push each other to be the best they can be. Both (boys and girls) sectional meets look to be competitive and we are excited to be a part of the field. We know that with competitive fields in these postseason meets we have to bring our best effort and do what we've been doing all year with working together to continue advancing."
Delta
Performance: Fourth at Delaware County, fifth at Hoosier Heritage Conference
Top runners:
Sr. Clay Batio — All-County, All-HHC; PR of 17:07
Sr. Caden Clark — All-County, All-HHC; PR of 17:28
Breakout runner: Junior Tyler Dillon. Dillon finished second at the Delta Eagle Cross Country Invitational and 22nd at the HHC Championships.
Yorktown
Performance: Second at Delaware County, fourth at HHC
Top runners:
Jr. Johnathan Loney — All-County, All-HHC; PR of 17:26
Jr. Aidan O'Donnell — All-County; PR of 17:58
Sr. Gannon Crosser — PR of 18:00
Breakout runner: Freshmen Nate Schaal-Deresh and Owen Fouts. Both came into the season and have made immediate varsity contributions, running personal-bests of 18:22 and 18:27, respectively.
From head coach Jared Turner: "Our boys and girls team has grown close over this season, all the way from our senior leaders to our new freshmen teammates and I am excited to see them compete for each other and try to accomplish some team goals as the IHSAA tournament starts."
Wapahani
Performance: First at Delaware County, First at Mid-Eastern Conference
Top runners:
Jr. Nick Cook — Delaware County and MEC champion; PR of 16:08
Sr. Payton Baker — All-County, All-MEC; PR of 17:11
Sr. Colton Boggs — All-County, All-MEC; PR of 17:14
Sr. Jon Shrock — All-County, All-MEC; PR of 17:16
Fr. Mason Tomboni — All-County, All-MEC; PR of 17:34
Breakout runner: Freshman Mason Tomboni. He's put himself in the top-five among a veteran Raiders group and head coach Bo Stevenson said he'll be a key factor in Wapahani's postseason success as a team.
From head coach Bo Stevenson: "After a good regular season the boys are running with a lot of confidence right now and have the primary goal of securing their second-consecutive triple crown."
Cowan
Performance: Third at Delaware County, second at MEC
Top runners:
Fr. Jackson Bradley — All-County, All-MEC; PR of 17:26.3
Jr. Gavin Ashby — All-MEC; PR of 18:04.6
Sr. Logan Walker — PR of 18:37.0
Breakout runner: Freshman Jackson Bradley. Bradley posted Cowan's best freshman time and his been the Blackhawks' top runner in each meet he's competed in. Additionally, freshmen Isaac Campbell and Aidan Glenn have been consistent top finishers for Cowan.
From head coach Kent Hanser: "I am proud to be working with these young people. They are showing spirit and determination and they are working hard to fulfill their potential as runners. In addition to that, the senior leadership has made this season a great one. Having two individuals earn sportsmanship pins from the IHSAA is awesome! That really speaks to the nature of the team that we have."
Daleville
Performance: Fifth at Delaware County, sixth at MEC
Top runners:
So. Noah Colvin — PR of 18:43
Jr. Ethan Colvin — PR of 19:01
So. Corin Withers — PR of 19:40
Most improved/breakout runner: Junior Austin Ryder. He has made significant improvements this season, improving his personal record by more than eight minutes to 20:23.8 this year.
From head coach David Beard: "Both teams are hard working groups, someone or several improve their time every week. The boys have an uphill battle to qualify for the regional."
Muncie Burris
Performance: First in Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference meet
Top runners:
Sr. Henry Cooper — All-PAAC; PR of 17:43
Jr. Ryan Wagner — All-PAAC; PR of 18:01
Fr. Noah Smith — All-PAAC; PR of 18:35
Most improved/breakout runner: Junior Ryan Wagner. Improved his personal best by 1:25, Wagner the Owl Invitational and placed fourth at the PAAC championship.
From head coach Max Davis: "I feel as if we have had a great season for both the boy’s and girl’s teams. And we have confidence that both teams can compete at sectionals and make a run at advancing to regionals."
Wes-Del
Performance: DNQ as team in Delaware County, MEC
Top runners:
Fr. John Cook — PR or 19:19
Breakout runner: Freshman John Cook. Cook has shaved more than two minutes off the time from his first meet this season, running a personal-best of 19:19 at the MEC Championship.
Monroe Central
Performance: First at Randolph County, fourth at MEC
Top runners:
Sr. Caden Landis — All-County, All-MEC; PR of 17:27
Jr. Eli Chamberlin — All-County, All-MEC; PR of 17:18
So. Lane Dance — All-County, All-MEC; PR of 18:17
Breakout runner: Senior Caden Landis. Not so much of a breakout, but Landis has assumed the role as Monroe Central's veteran runner and has the results to back him up. Landis won the Randolph County Meet individual title with a 17:27 and has four top-5 and nine top-10 finishes this season.
Shenandoah
Performance: Second at Henry County, seventh at MEC
Top runners:
Sr. Kenyan Troxel — All-County; PR of 17:58
Sr. Sam Hinshaw — PR of 18:41
Breakout runner: Senior Kenyan Troxel. In his first year as a runner, Troxel has continued to improve his times, posting four top-10 finishes this season.
From head coach John Davis: "Do your best every day and the rest will take care of itself."
Blackford
Performance: Fourth at Central Indiana Conference meet
Top runners:
Sr. Donavan Osborn — All-Conference; PR of 17:37
Jr. Keaton Walker — All-Conference HM; PR of 18:12.9
Jr. Darius Osborn — All-Conference HM; PR of 18:35
Most improved/breakout runner: Junior Keaton Walker. Walker has been steadily improving all year, lowering his personal-best time by 1:07 from last season.
From head coach Doug Osborn: "Both teams have been working very hard all season and have had some very good workouts going into our postseason competition."
Jay County
Performance: Sixth at Allen County Conference
Top runners:
Fr. Joseph Boggs — All-Conference; PR of 18:00
Most improved/breakout runner: Freshman Joseph Boggs. Boggs came onto the seen this season and has shaved multiple minutes off his time, finishing with a team-best seventh-place finish at the ACAC meet.
New Castle
Performance: Eighth at HHC
Top runners:
Jr. Harry Callaway — PR of 17:27
Fr. Carter Leduc — PR of 20:03
Fr. Elijah Blankenship — PR of 20:20
Most improved runner: Junior Harry Callaway. He's shaved nearly 30 seconds off his season-best time from a year ago and has solidified himself a the Trojans' top runner heading into the sectional.
From head coach Andy Carter: "Our boys' team is very young, but they are hard workers and very easy to coach. The boys have improved steadily since the beginning of the summer and throughout the season. Our boys hope to advance several individuals out of sectional and on to regional."
Winchester
Performance: Second at Randolph County, fourth at Tri-Eastern Conference
Top runners:
Sr. Aidan Moystner — All-County, All-TEC; PR of 17:29
Jr. Quentin Keen — All-County; PR of 19:00
So. Hunter Patterson — All-County; PR of 19:04
Breakout runner: Senior Aidan Moystner. A semistate qualifier from a season ago, Moystner has continued to drop his times this season, recording five top-five finishes this season alone.
Union (Modoc)
Performance: DNQ as a team in Henry County, MEC meets
Top runners:
Jr. Eli Wesley — PR of 21:29
Breakout runner: Junior Eli Wesley. Wesley improved on his times from last season and ran a PR at the Delta Invitational, which was held at Taylor University.
From head coach Brandon Arnett: "Overall we have had a successful season full of improvements. It is not over yet and I hope to see a competitive sectional race."
Blue River
Performance: First at Henry County, fourth at MEC
Top runners:
Sr. James Crull — All-County, All-Conference; PR of 17:42
Sr. Gabe Sayre — PR of 18:38
Jr. Tyler Flynn — Top-20 at MEC; PR of 18:37
Jr. Zach Crull — All-County, All-Conference; PR of 18:28
Jr. Landon Gibson — All-County; PR of 18:38
Most improved runner: Senior James Crull. He has improved in time in each meet this season and taken over as Blue River's top runner. He's been more focused this year, securing individual All-County and All-Conference accolades.
From head coach Jay Foreman: "I started using the quote 'Today's The Day' about midway through the season. I kept indicating to the kids that something big happens each day during practice or in a meet, but we sometimes have to look for it. The kids grasped this with PR's, championships and great performances."
Robby General covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high school sports for The Star Press. Contact him via email at rgeneral@gannett.com or on Twitter @rgeneraljr.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: IHSAA boys cross-country: East Central Indiana sectional preview
