Weatherford wins regional, team places seventh

Monday, October 17, 2011
GHS junior Colleen Weatherford won the Ben Davis Regional Saturday after posting a time of 18:39, a new school record. She and Avon's Malyka Abramson were neck-and-neck as they cross the finish line.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Greencastle's girls' cross country squad competed at the Ben Davis regional on Saturday, finishing seventh out of the ten competing teams.

Colleen Weatherford made up for the second place finish at Tuesday's sectional, nudging just past Avon's Malyka Abramson for first place at the regional at the line.

The finish of 18:39 set a new Greencastle school record and allowed Weatherford to advance to the Carmel semi-state next Saturday.

The rest of the squad had finishes ranging from the middle of the pack back, with Emily Gill closing out her cross country career with a 25th place finish at 20:39.

Paige Pickens placed 46th with a time of 21:49, followed shortly by Kayla Cash at 22:07 and Samantha Haynes at 22:12. Alex Stoffregen came in at 23:18 and Cheyenne Fauvergue finished out the squad with a time of 24:55.

Greencastle head coach Garry Anderson noted Weatherford's achievement.

"She broke the school record. She's the first girl we've ever had down below the 19:00 minute mark. She did an outstanding job to beat out the same girl that got her in the sectional. She raced her very well," Anderson said.

For the rest of the squad, it was a different story.

"They didn't come to race. Part of them did; part of them didn't," Anderson said.

"It's unfortunate because we just needed a little more 'oomph' and we could have gotten the spot that we wanted," Anderson added.

"They had a good season overall. We're here at the regional. We wanted to move on to the next level, but unfortunately, we didn't make it this year."

For Weatherford, the Carmel semi-state awaits again. For Anderson, there's only one goal in mind.

"Obviously we want to get her into the state finals. She needs a place in the top 15 individuals, as she can't go with a team," Anderson said.

"Her shot is as good as anybody's."

At Ben Davis High School

IHSAA Ben Davis Girls' Cross Country Regional

No. 7 Avon 35, Pike 64, Brownsburg 80, Perry Meridian 122, Ben Davis 150, Plainfield 156, Greencastle 162, Tri-West 210, Cardinal Ritter 246, Southport 265

Individual Winner: Colleen Weatherford (G) 18:39

Greencastle Placement

Weatherford 18:39 (1); Gill 20:39 (25); Pickens 21:49 (46); Cash 22:07 (48); Haynes 22:12 (49); Stoffregen 23:18 (59); Fauvergue 24:55 (70)

Next meet: Greencastle's Colleen Weatherford will race in the Carmel semi-state next Saturday.