Season ends at semi (10/22/07)

FORT WAYNE - For even a chance at the state meet, the Patriots had to be at their absolute best. Saturday, it just wasn't there.

Jay County High School's girls cross country team's season closed at the semi-state meet hosted by New Haven at IPFW as the team placed 14th.

The Patriots, who were seventh a year ago, scored 366 points to finish 71 behind 13th-place Mishawaka and seven ahead of 15th-place Pendleton Heights. They had finished behind Pendleton Heights at last week's regional meet.

Fourth-ranked Carroll rolled to victory with 48 points in the 20-team field. The other five state-qualifying spots went to No. 5 Northrdige (79), No. 16 DeKalb (137), No. 17 West Noble (152), No. 18 Goshen (153) and No. 19 Concordia (184).

A week after each of its top four runners posted career-best times by 20 seconds or more, JCHS slipped back in the pack. Each of those same four runners were at least 39 seconds slower than at the regional meet at the Water Bowl in Muncie.

"We didn't run our best ... maybe last Saturday was our peak day," said Patriot coach Les Bantz. "I'm not disappointed in the girls in any way, shape or form. I'm disappointed for them. It just wasn't their day."

Freshman Alysha Miller was at 26th at the mile mark of the semi-state race. She slipped back during the field's second lap through the woods at IPFW, but still turned in the top JCHS time as she placed 42nd in 20-minutes, 23 seconds.

She was three-seconds behind Frankton's Heather Herrmann and one ahead of Erin Rockey from Westview.

Along with the top six teams, the top 15 individuals also earned spots in the state meet. The final qualifying position went to South Bend Riley's Bethany Werge, who finished in 19:32.

Senior Amanda Johnson was the only other Patriot under the 21-minute mark as she took 56th in the 152-runner field at 20:45. Leah Wellman placed 86th in 21:21, and Kylie Wellman took 106th at 21:49.

Brittany Burris, the only Jay County runner to improve upon her regional time, rounded out the team score in 139th as she crossed the line in 23:24.

Cassie Laux finished 140th, seven seconds behind Burris, and Katie Butcher was 147th in 24:58.

"We didn't run well today, but we had a great season," said Bantz, whose team finished first in eight of its 12 meets this year. "I'm proud of them. ... They've been highly motivated. ... It's been a great season, I just didn't want to see it end today.

"I think we can use this as a springboard ..."

The Patriots won invitationals at Bellmont, Oak Hill, Union City and Delta this year. They also won their own Jay County Invitational and captured a fifth straight Olympic Athletic Conference title.

They placed four runners in the top seven at the Delta sectional meet to win their second consecutive title and fourth in school history, and then had four runners in the top 13 to take third at the Delta regional.

Rupp places 66th

South Adams' Nathan Rupp was the only area runner in Saturday's boys race, and he finished 66th in 17:14.

He was just behind Luke Momper of Bishop Dwenger and Alex Cushman from Norwell, who each turned in identical times. South Bend St. Joseph's Michael Zientar and Homestead's Kodi Mullins followed Rupp in 17:15.

Trevor Moore of champion Northridge finished 15th in 16:22.[[In-content Ad]]