Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Eagles fly to state
once again

Alex Banfich's (far right) toughest competition was the Hardesty twins from Valparaiso. The CGA junior pulled away in the last mile to easily win last Saturday's semistate cross country meet. Pilot Photo/Ron Haramia

NEW CARLISLE - The results were the same, but the road traveled had more detours.

For the third time in three years, the Culver Girls Academy cross country team qualified for the state meet.

“It has been a rough season with injuries, sickness, new people, etc.,” said longtime CGA head coach Mike Chastain. “But the girls stepped up. We just didn't know if it would be enough.”

Behind two top 15 finishes - and just enough in the next three positions - CGA snagged the fifth, and final, team spot at the New Prairie Semistate Saturday to qualify for this weekend's state meet to be held in Terre Haute on Saturday.

“We squeaked in again, but at least we'll be down there. I'm happy,” said Chastain.

Another happy person is Alex Banfich, who won her third consecutive semistate title. The CGA junior, who seems to always have a smile on her face, outclocked Valparaiso sisters Amanda and Lauren Hardesty by 16 and 27 seconds, respectively, to win going away.

“She is still overcoming some things, but she ran well,” said Chastain. “Her attitude is good as always and she is a competitor.”

And not that Banfich needed any extra motivation as she tries to defend her state title from a year ago, but earlier in the week the Hardesty's came across . . . um . . . confident in a newspaper article, saying in effect that they were really looking forward to racing Banfich.

“I just ran my race,” said the well-grounded Banfich, who seemed happier for her team than herself. “It was a great day for racing and I am really proud of the girls. Before the race we were all holding hands and said, ‘Do we really want to go to state?' And the answer was ‘Yes!'.”

Then they proved it.

Fellow junior Kiley Trennepohl placed 14th overall and sophomore Mary Peter 40th. The next two spots were from Hannah Goettle (81st) and Elise Hoover (90th) in the 157-runner field. CGA's team total of 181 just nipped the home team of New Prairie (185).

Plymouth junior Morgan Hite just missed qualifying for state, finishing 19th overall.

VALPARAISO 67, WEST LAFAYETTE 110, LAKE CENTRAL 111, PORTAGE 138, CULVER GIRLS ACADEMY 181, NEW PRAIRIE 185, CHESTERTON 202, PENN 208, 9. RENSSELAER CENTRAL 250, HARRISON 260, ANDREAN 323, SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH'S 341, MISHAWAKA MARIAN 351, MUNSTER 354
New Prairie Semistate
At New Carlisle
Top 10
1. Alexandra Banfich (CGA) 14:26, 2. Amanda Hardesty (Valpo) 14:42, 3. Lauren Hardesty (Valpo) 14:53, 4. Megan Plenus (Lake Central) 14:57, 5. Linsey Daluga (West Lafayette) 15:02, 6. Sunsea Shaw (SB Riley) 15:06, 7. Mary Cate Quiett (Marian) 15:10, 9. Dan Payonk (Lake Central) 15:20), 10. Melinda Misch (Portage) 15:21

Local Finishers
CGA: 1. Alexandra Banfich 14:26, 14. Kiley Trennepohl 15:35, 40. Mary Peter 16:11, 81. Hannah Goettle 16:46, 90. Elise Hoover 16:56, 111. Kelly Norton 17:13, 136. Marisa Gilmore 17:41
Plymouth: 19. Morgan Hite 15:47, 28. Sanchara Ballog 16:00, 58. Julia Rodriguez 16:32
Oregon-Davis: 30. Sarah Konkey 16:01