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Local cross country runners compete at Semistate
INDIANAPOLIS -- Local runners, Brittany Love, Arianna Pershing and Corrine Romer as well as Taylor Secrest of Greencastle, along with Kieffer Vittetow and Madison Egold of South Putnam all ran at Northview Church near Carmel High School. No local runners advanced.
"The day was just what the doctor ordered for competing in a cross country meet," GHS Garry Anderson said. "The temperature and wind were ideal. The course was in excellent shape throughout. The Greencastle four were very excited about having the opportunity to run in the semi-state. They knew this would be a tremendous step up in the caliber of competition due the numerous state-ranked teams that were represented there."
Carmel took both events in the meet and the weather was clear and warm on a course that was hilly and curvy. Both teams would've been well prepared as Greencastle's runners have ran on South Putnam's hilly course all three weeks prior to the regional at Ben Davis.
"The course is really deceiving," Love said. "It's kind of rolling hills the whole time. You're going up. You're going down you are never really on flat land. But it was a lot of fun just being in my last year."
Secrest finished with a time of 17:11.8 while Vittetow finished with 17:43.8.
"It was a blast today to be able to run here at semi-state," Secrest said. "It's basically been full circle. My freshman year I was here just enjoying it, taking it in and I was kind of intimidated. This year it was a lot of fun just to complete it and come full circle."
In the girls' race Romer finished with the lowest Putnam County time with 21:14.2. Egold recorded a time of 21:56.6.
"I just love big meets like this," Egold said. "There is so much energy. It's a lot of fun in an environment like this where everybody actually wants to be here. I think it's a lot of fun."
Maddie Egold ran the event last year as a junior and returned to finish off her stellar career. Vittetow will be working next year to return to the Carmel race.
"The team is basically done," SPHS Brandon Welti said. "They've been doing the work on their own. That's a challenge mentally and physically. I'm just proud of the commitment and work ethic they've shown all year. For Kieffer it was a great experience and for Maddie it was her second year in a row. That's a great way to wrap things up."
Pershing finished with 22:03.5 and Love finished with 22:30.5.
"The course was pretty difficult but I actually had a lot of fun," Pershing said. "It was a great finish to my freshman year."
Both teams have enjoyed cross country success in recent years, and both can expect its underclassmen to continue that success.
However the Tiger Cub and Eagle teams also are losing great runners and will definitely miss the low times.
"I had a lot of fun too," Romer said. "It was awkward to pass people because it was so twisty-and-turney. You had to hug the inside. It was fun. Last year it was sleeting and 20 degrees and terrible, but today it was beautiful.
At Carmel
IHSAA Carmel Semi-final
Girls' individual results
Romer (GC) 21:14.2; Madison Egold (SP) 21:56.6; Corrine Romer (GC) 21:16; Arianna Pershing (GC) 22:03.5; Brittany Love (GC) 22:30.5;
Boys' Individual results
Taylor Secrest (GC) 17:11.8; Kieffer Vittetow (SP) 17:43.8;