Three Patriots advance

MUNCIE — The Jay County High School girls cross country team missed advancing as a team by one point.
The Patriots will still be represented at the New Haven semi-state.
In Saturday’s cross country regional at Muncie SportsPlex, Jay County’s girls scored 166 points, one shy of Frankton for the fifth and final qualifying spot.
But juniors Kellie Fortkamp and Megan Wellman placed 13th and 20th respectively for the girls, and sophomore Tanner Craw finished in 26th for the JCHS boys, as all three earned a berth to the semi-state meet Saturday at IPFW.
“That was tough for us,” JCHS coach Sarah Mescher said of the girls’ team missing semi-state. This is the first time since 2005 the Patriots have not advanced as a unit. “I projected that is about where we were supposed to be anyway. I’m glad that we did that. It was so close we could taste it.
“Despite everything that happened this year, I’m really impressed.”
Pendleton Heights blew away the field as it occupied five of the top seven spots for a total of 18 points. Yorktown was runner-up with 101, Randolph Southern placed third with 105 and Mt. Vernon had 135 for fourth.
Mt. Vernon (26) and Pendleton Heights (29) were first and second respectively in the boys’ race. Monroe Central (135) was third, Delta (155) placed fourth and Wapahani (156) finished fifth.
Jay County’s boys — Travis Barton, Alex LeMaster, Michael Denney and Craw — competed as individuals.
The top five teams and 10 individuals not on advancing teams earn semi-state berths.
Fortkamp was sitting in 11th at the one-mile mark with six Pendleton Heights runners in the group in front of her. She dropped back to 13th after 2 miles, and stayed in the same position as she crossed the finish line in 20 minutes, 41.09 seconds.
“Kellie has worked so hard this season and it’s showed every meet,” Mescher said. “She’s putting forth the effort. She followed the game plan that she did last week, she stayed with that group and then she just worked hard to the finish.”
Alex Buck of Pendleton Heights won the race with a time of 18:30.59 for her third-straight regional championship. She was more than 49 seconds faster than teammate Emma Hall, who finished second. Mt. Vernon’s Christian Noble took the boys title in 15:54.08, winning in back-to-back years.
Wellman, who has been battling injuries for the majority of her junior campaign, was four spots behind Fortkamp at the mile mark and slipped a few more after 2 miles. She finished in 21:13.07, two seconds behind former teammate and current Burris junior Emi Minnich, who also earned a semi-state berth.
“It feels great,” Wellman said of returning to semi-state for the third consecutive season. “I had a lot working against me this year and it was a big up-and-down year. To be able to go back as an individual, or to be able to go back at all, is a great feeling.”
Craw was in a pack with Wapahani’s Drew Barber and James McDonald of Mt. Vernon at the one- and two-mile marks, battling to crack the top 20. The Patriot sophomore was in 24th in the final 20 yards, but fell back two spots as he finished with a time of 17:59.34.
“He’s worked really hard,” Mescher said of Craw, who is the second JCHS boy in three years to reach semi-state. “He takes the meets very seriously. I’m really impressed with our guys this year that we had four come (to regional). And to have one advance, that says a lot about the boys team.”
While Fortkamp and Wellman won’t have their teammates with them at Saturday’s semi-state meet, they’re both grateful they will at least have one another.
“She’s been working all year, I’m so proud of her,” Wellman said of Fortkamp. “She’s been pushing me, so to see her come to semi-state with me is just a great feeling.
“I’m really happy for her and I hope she competes well.”
For Minnich, who advanced to semi-state with the Patriots the previous two seasons, she said going back as an individual validates her ability as a runner.
“It means a lot to get to go with a team, but it means so much more to know that I earned this personally and that I individually qualified as a semi-state runner,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what (Saturday) holds for me.”
Rounding out the Patriots’ team score were Erika Kunkler (48th – 22:54.07), Gabby Kunkler (52nd – 23:09.91) and Ashley Alig (74th – 24:52.22).
Also running for the Jay County girls Saturday were Kay Morgan and Kiara Walter. Morgan placed 80th in 25:50.93, and Walter did not finish because of an injury.
Michael Denney (35th – 18:17.57), Travis Barton (54th – 18:54.47) and Alex LeMaster (61st – 19:10.25) also ran for the boys.