Banfich breaks record in last race on home course

CULVER, Ind. - Alex Banfich made her last race on her home course a memorable one.

The Culver Girls Academy senior, Indiana's two-time defending state champion, set a course record of 17:59.6 while winning Saturday's Culver Academies girls cross country regional.

Banfich finished the 5,000-meter (3.1 mile) race over a minute-and-a-half ahead of runner-up Morgan Hite from Plymouth. And while doing so, she led the No. 15-ranked Eagles to the girls regional team title.

Four CGA girls finished among the top 10 as the Eagles scored 40 points. Western totaled 58 in second and Plymouth (99) was third.

Banfich broke the previous course record of 18:05 that she set earlier this season.

The top five teams and top 15 individual finishers advance to next weekend's New Prairie semistate.

Culver Community sophomore Lauren Shaffer qualified for the semistate with at 13th-place finish.

Plymouth and Culver Military Academy advanced teams to the boys semistate by placing fourth and fifth, respectively, in the boys regional race.

Oak Hill won the meet with 56 points. Plymouth scored 102 and CMA 128.

Oak Hill's Cameron Balser (16:11) outsprinted CMA's Alejandro Arroyo (16:16) for the boys individual title. Plymouth's Calvin Cook was fourth.

CULVER REGIONAL

BOYS

Team scores: Oak Hill 56, Western 91, Kokomo 96, Plymouth 102, Culver Military Academy 128, Northfield 143, Peru 185, Maconaquah 192, Rochester 196, Tippecanoe Valley 224.

Top 25 finishers: 1, Cameron Balser (OH) 16:11. 2, Alejandro Arroyo (CMA) 16:16. 3, Matt McClain (OH) 16:24. 4, Calvin Cook (Ply) 16:28. 5, Bryant Blair (OH) 16:35. 6, Aaron Garretson (Peru) 16:44. 7, Matthew Galt (Ply) 16:45. 8, Corey Scott (West) 16:47. 9, Kyle Overway (Logansport) 16:49. 10, Zacaria Martinez (West) 16:53. 11, Michael Coburn (Nfield) 16:54. 12, Peter Johnson (Ply) 16:55. 13, Ian Holtson (Koko) 16:56. 14, Bryce Comp (Macon) 16:57. 15, Brandon Sheline (Koko) 17:00. 16, Kory Kennedy (Northwestern) 17:03. 17, Levi Allen (Nfield) 17:08. 18, Alex Weaver (TV) 17:12. 19, Shannon Garretson (Peru) 17:19. 20, Trace Ostergren (CMA) 17:20. 21, Seth Murphy (Roch) 17:21. 22, Devin White (Koko) 17:24. 23, Kody Harmon (West) 17:26. 24, Graham Spencer (OH) 17:26. 25, Chris Love (West) 17:30.

GIRLS

Team scores: Culver Girls Academy 40, Western 58, Plymouth 99, Northfield 122, Pioneer 137, Kokomo 148, Northwestern 153, Lewis Cass 159, Caston 291. No 10th place.

Top 25 finishers: 1, Alexandra Banfich (CGA) 17:59.6 (COURSE RECORD). 2, Morgan Hite (Ply) 19:37. 3, Nicole Parry (Koko) 19:50. 4, Jennifer Claudio (NW) 20:00. 5, Ashley Baber (LC) 20:13. 6, Kaye Sitterley (CGA) 20:17. 7, Mary Margaret Peter (CGA) 20:31. 8, Kiley Trennepohl (CGA) 20:44. 9, Jenna Norris (Oak Hill) 20:44. 10, Katie Hollingsworth (West) 20:54. 11, Corianne Myer (West) 20:59. 12, Jennifer Elliott (West) 21:03. 13, Lauren Shaffer (Culver Community) 21:04. 14, Kayla Gaskins (West) 21:05. 15, Kortnee Singer (Nfield) 21:10. 16, Mae Christiansen (Ply) 21:13. 17, Allasyn Slater (Ply) 21:14. 18, Ashley Gaskins (West) 21:23. 19, Kelli Samons (Nfield) 21:25. 20, Zita Groll (CGA) 21:29. 21, Hannah Ault (NW) 21:34. 22, Lauren Davis (CGA) 21:37. 23, Kathryn Marr (CGA) 21:38. 24, Cady Caudle (Pio) 21:42. 25, Breanne Nicholas (West) 21:47.

NOTE: Top five teams and top 15 individual finishers advance to New Prairie semistate on Saturday, Oct. 20.