Sights set on state

During his freshman season, Caleb Garringer’s trip to the regional meet was mostly about experience.

He finished right in the middle of the 250-runner field.

This time, he’s heading to the meet with the goal of a state berth. And he has some company with Terre Haute hopes as well.

Garringer and Dash Thacker of Jay County High School are within striking distance of the state finals as they lead a group of Patriots who will compete at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the regional cross country meet hosted by New Haven at Huntington University.

“They’ve put the work in,” said Jay County coach Bruce Wood following the sectional races at Taylor University. “I know they both get a little extra miles on top of what we do. That’s what happens when you do that — work hard and you get some rewards for it. They’re getting down to that state-qualifying time range. If they have a great race … we could see another week out of them.”

The entire JCHS girls team will run at the regional meet following its runner-up sectional finish, and Joseph Boggs joins Garringer and Thacker as a regional qualifier for the boys.

The top five teams and top 15 individuals on non-advancing teams Saturday will move on to the state finals, which will be contested Nov. 2 at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute. That’s a tall order in a field that will feature 25 teams and another 75 individuals for a field of 250 runners.