Miller, Patriots defend UC titles (09/22/2008)

UNION CITY - Four in the top five made it four in a row.

With another win by sophomore Aly Miller, the Jay County High School girls cross country team took first place in the Union City Invitational Saturday for the fourth straight season. The Patriots easily took the top spot in the seven-team field with 23 points while Muncie Central was a distant second at 65.

The JCHS boys were fifth out of six teams with 103 points. Randolph Southern won with 26 points.

Miller succesfully defended her title at the event, and her classmate was her closest challenger. She won the race in 20-minutes, nine seconds, a season-best time.

Leah Wellman also posted her best time of the season in taking the runner-up slot in 20:37.

A Tri runner broke up the Patriot run by taking third place, but freshman Katie Simmons followed in fourth at 21:09. Senior Cassie Laux gave JCHS its fourth runner in the top five at 21:30.

Kari Hemmelgarn finished off the Jay County team score in 11th at 22:28, just nine seconds ahead of teammate Liz Lennartz and 10 in front of Logan Laux.

Tevan Nichols broke the 18-minute barrier for the first time in his career. He finished in fifth place, one second head of Central's Zach Haller in 17:53.

Branden Brinton was 22nd in 19:30.

Spencer Grady just missed breaking the 20-minute mark as he placed 28th in 20:04. Austin Bentz was 30th in 20:28, and Zach Johnson finished 45th in 23:54.[[In-content Ad]]