Schminke, Stenberg bring back cross country sectionals for West Lafayette

WEST LAFAYETTE - Henny Schminke moved to West Lafayette from Pennsylvania.

Cross country was not her sport of choice.

Elijah Stenberg endured three years of high school running that saw success, but his full potential was being held back by recurring injuries.

On Saturday morning, both celebrated individual championships while lifting West Lafayette back to the top of the cross country sectional mountain.

"I was pleasantly surprised that the girls really pieced it together," Red Devils cross country coach David Joest said. "The coaches kind of thought all season this team has a pretty good amount of potential but we’ve been taking some baby steps towards that. This was a nice big one, which was a good way to start the tournament.

"The boys ran alright, but I think there’s a little bit more in there. I am looking forward to seeing what he next couple weeks hold. They did a good job still holding off a good team from Harrison."

Not long ago, it was a foregone conclusion West Side would leave Tippecanoe Amphitheater with a pair of sectional championship trophies.

But the state powerhouse program took a step back while the rest of the area got better.

Schminke, who moved to West Lafayette in 2020 as a lacrosse and squash star, picked up cross country to stay in shape for a hopeful future in college lacrosse. On Saturday morning, she partnered up with teammate Annie Dunford to lead a closely contested front back in an eventual 1-2 finish.

That, along with Shannon Dineen and Alivia Lewis coming in eighth and ninth respectively, as well as Charlotte Simpson's 13th-place finish was enough to beat runner-up Harrison 32-55. Harrison, the defending sectional champion, also won in 2009, the only two blemishes since 2000 in which the Red Devils have now won 21 sectional titles in 23 seasons.

"I was running with one of my teammates Annie and we always like to pace together," Schminke said. "Other than that, it was just staying with the pack and hoping for the best.

"It means a lot. I didn’t start running until my freshman year so it’s a pretty quick turnaround and I am glad the hard work is paying off."

Stenberg cruised from the front much of the race, beating Harrison's Jaiden Goins by five seconds to the finish line.

That proved pivotal as the Red Devils won their first sectional title since 2017 by a single point over the Raiders.

"Coach Joest came into the tent and he said the girls ran fast. It kind of hyped us all up," Stenberg said. "We were ready and we were excited.

"It’s a step along the way, It is just another race. Our goal is to be running our best in two weeks at New Prairie to get us to state."

Albert Rajwa was sixth and Ryan Miloudi was ninth. Zachary Johnson (13th) and Jacob Wright (17th) helped supply just enough to bring the Red Devils a first-place team finish.

The top five teams and top 10 individuals from non-advancing teams, along with qualifiers from the Benton Central Sectional, will compete in next Saturday's regional at Tippecanoe Amphitheater.

"This is the first season of the seven between cross and track in high school that Elijah has been healthy all the way through," Joest said. "The training he’s been able to work off of, he’s got a solid base. He’s been in everything this year and leading the charge.

"Henny came off a stellar track season and she is developing some good confidence in the fall. Having she and Annie there together, I think they are learning how to help each other out. I hope that continues in the weeks ahead."

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

Girls results

West Lafayette 32, Harrison 55, Faith Christian 65, McCutcheon 113, Lafayette Jeff 117, Clinton Prairie 184, Frankfort 187, Central Catholic 213, Clinton Central 223

Top 20 individuals – 1. Henny Schminke (WL) 19:13; 2. Annie Dunford (WL) 19:17; 3. Kamilla Gibson (LJ) 19:23; 4. Kaitlyn Manfra (Har) 19:27; 5. Sawyer DeWitt (Har) 19:29; 6. Clara Schenke (Faith) 19:32; 7. Rubi Rider (Har) 19:38; 8. Shannon Dineen (WL) 20:19; 9. Alivia Lewis (WL) 20:22; 10. Faith Dixon (Faith) 20:26; 11. Kirsten South (Faith) 20:28; 12. Ariel Abbot (Rville) 20:28; 13. Charlotte Simpson (WL) 20:30; 14. Asharia Hernandez (LJ) 20:32; 15. Sarah Flesher (WL) 20:38; 16. Olivia Luban (McC) 20:45; 17. Olivia Criswell (McC) 20:54; 18. Emma Obert (Har) 21:09; 19. Adalyn Nelson (Faith) 21:11; 20. Ashley Vasquez-Rivera (Fft) 21:22

Boys results

West Lafayette 46, Harrison 47, Clinton Prairie 83, McCutcheon 103, Frankfort 126, Lafayette Jeff 132, Rossville 188, Central Catholic 208, Clinton Central 243, Faith Christian 288, Delphi 310

Top 20 individuals – 1. Elijah Stenberg (WL) 15:49; 2. Jaiden Goins (Har) 15:54; 3. Hayden Kemple (CP) 16:02; 4. George Hufendick (Har) 16:12; 5. Christopher Angeles (Fft) 16:17; 6. Albert Rajwa (WL) 16:19; 7. Neven Chasteen (CP) 16:43; 8. Evan Lottes (Har) 16:44; 9. Ryan Miloudi (WL) 16:45; 10. Ethan Fleischhauer (CP) 16:51; 11. Elias Rodriguez (LJ) 16:51; 12. Ethan Getz (Har) 16:54; 13. Zachary Johnson (WL) 16:57; 14. Angel Perez (Fft) 17:02; 15. Lucas Persin (McC) 17:03; 16. Diego Olivo-Hernandez (LJ) 17:06; 17. Jacob Wright (WL) 17:13; 18. Brooks Burnette (McC) 17:15; 19. Charles Thompson (Rville) 17:17; 20. Cary Swick (McC) 17:18

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Schminke, Stenberg bring cross country sectionals to West Lafayette