TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- It was a day for defending titles at the high school girls state cross country meet.

Culver Academy junior Alexandra Banfich claimed her second straight individual title, winning the 4,000-meter race in 14 minutes, 20.9 seconds, and Westfield had three finish in the top 12 to claim its second consecutive team title.

After spending the year ranked No. 1, the win came as something of a relief to Shamrocks coach Scott Lidskin. Westfield scored 114 points. Valparaiso and Noblesville both scored 129 points, with Valparaiso's sixth runner in front of Noblesville's to claim second.

"This was a much tougher year (than 2005)," Lidskin said. "Last year we were more relaxed; it was a little more fun. This is more of a relief, but it's still sweet."

At last week's Franklin Central Semistate, the Shamrocks sported T-shirts with the phrase "Throw your putter." This week, they threw their putters.

"Tiger Woods was way ahead in a golf tournament and there was no way he could lose, but he missed a putt and threw his putter," said Westfield junior Maggie Bingham, who out-kicked Richmond's Sara Terashima down the stretch to finish second in 14:38.9. "It's not about winning but doing your best. I think this week we came out here and we did our best."

And that was despite the team looking "like a hospital ward," according to Lidskin, with Kristina Krasich and Dana Christie both ill.

The Shamrocks won off the strength of their top three, Bingham (second), Kaitlyn Love (eighth) and Krasich (12th). In the team scores they were second, fifth and eighth.

Noblesville's third-place finish was its second impressive performance in a row. Last week it took the Franklin Central Semistate by surprise, finishing second.

The Millers were led by senior Erika Watson, who finished 21st overall and won the IHSAA's Mental Attitude Award. Center Grove finished fourth (144) points and Carmel was fifth (152).

Banfich claimed the individual title by more than 17 seconds. Her time was slower than last year, when she won on the same course in 14:05.1, because of Saturday's muddy and windy conditions.

Banfich was with the top pack until about the 2-kilometer mark. Between the 2K and 3K she said she "pushed the pace a little bit" and separated herself from the field.

"It was pretty wet, pretty windy," Banfich said. "But you can't think about that. I felt really good, and I was glad to have my team there with me."

Other top area finishers included Avon's Lorna Whaley (sixth), Cathedral's Katie Achtien (seventh), Beech Grove's Renee Masterson (ninth), Plainfield's Brittney McDuffee (13th), Center Grove's Shelbi Burnett (14th) and Carmel's Kayle McCurdy (15th).