Greencastle, North Putnam runners end season strong

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Greencastle closed it's regular season by defeating North Putnam and Crawfordsville at the DePauw Nature Park on Monday. The Tiger Cubs won the meet with 17 points, while North Putnam finished second with 49 and Crawfordsville was third with 87.

Greencastle's Olivia Humphreys keeps focus as she makes her way through the course at the DePauw Nature Park. Humphreys finished eighth in a time of 25:10

Greencastle junior Sara Culler capped her impressive '08 season by winning the meet with a time of 22:28. Culler ends the meet portion of the Tiger Cubs schedule with an undefeated record.

Following Culler was her teammates Kaitlyn Murtagh and Jamine Dwigans. Murtagh posted a time of 22:36, with Dwigans clocking a 22:56.

Greencastle had four more girls finish in the top ten on the evening. Emily Gill was fifth with a 23:48, Ivonne Martinez was sixth in a time of 24:24, Felicia Barger was seventh with the time of 24:53 and Olivia Humphreys was eighth in a time of 25:10.

The Tiger Cubs' Brittany Johnson finished in 13th place with a time of 27:44 and Sasha Query was 18th in a time of 29:15.

With ominous, dark storm clouds looming overhead, the runners began the meet with temperatures much cooler from an earlier rain and the Greencastle runners took advantage of it.

"The meet tonight was run in almost ideal weather and temperature," GHS head coach Garry Anderson said. "I was pleased that all of our girls go their best time on this course tonight; our last meet of the year. This is going to be a positive for the upcoming tournaments."

For North Putnam, Paxton Stephenson and Whitney High led the team with top ten finishes. They posted times of 23:28 and 25:59 respectively. Elsiana Crosby placed 11th for North Putnam with a time of 27:03.

Megan Robinson was 14th for the Cougars in a time of 28:09, while Hillary Salyers was 15th in 28:12. Dakota Parent finished 17th, coming in with a time of 28:54 and Mandy Preecs finished the night in 21st place with a time of 39:41.

The Cougars attacked a course much different than the one they're used to and head coach Kevin Lutes believes that could help them with their big meets coming up.

"The course is tough; it's a lot hillier that what we're used to running at home, but we've been training for that," Lutes commented. "The kids did, at least from my point of view; they were pretty much on target. For us Monday meets don't work out as well as end of the week meets do, but all the kids came out and we had most of our kids running today and I was glad to see that."

Lutes alluded to the fact that their county, conference and sectional meets will take place at South Putnam, whose course is known for its hills and he's had his squad training with that in mind. He said it is what their focus has been on and he also noted the meet on Greencastle's course would help.

North Putnam will travel to Eminence to battle the Eels and Cloverdale at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, while Greencastle gears up for the Putnam County meet next Tuesday at 4:30 at South Putnam

At the DePauw Nature Park

Team results

Greencastle 17, North Putnam 49, Crawfordsville 87

Individual times

1. Culler (GHS) 22:28, 2. Murtagh (GHS) 22:36, 3. Dwigans 22:56, 4. Stephenson (NP) 23:28, 5. Gill (GHS) 23:48, 6. Martinez (GHS) 24:24, 7. Barger (GHS) 24:53, 8. Humphreys (GHS) 25:10, 9. High (NP) 25:59, 10. Tribbett (C) 26:11, 11. Crosby (NP) 27:03, 12. Kidwell (C) 27:24, 13. Johnson (GHS) 27:44, 14. Robinson (NP) 28:09, 15. Salyers (NP) 28:12, 16. Fairfield (C) 28:25, 17. Parent (NP) 28:54, 18. Query (GHS) 29:15, 19. Shafer (C) 29:39, 20. Simmons (C) 30:32, 21. Preece (NP) 39:41

Next meet -- North Putnam will travel to Eminence to battle the Eels and Cloverdale at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, while Greencastle gears up for the Putnam County meet next Tuesday at 4:30 at South Putnam

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