The Valparaiso High School girls cross country team is advancing to the State Championship Meet after coming in second at Semi-State on Saturday. Coach Nellesen said, “The girls ran well together and we accomplished our goal, which is State. That’s what we’re focused on.”
The Valparaiso team has rallied this year, not having the start to the season they would have liked, with three of their varsity runners starting the season injured. Katelyn DeVries, Lauren Bigger and Tricia Joll, all seniors, began the season injured. They are healthy now and have come back fighting. DeVries, no stranger to the State competition said “This will be my fourth year running State and I am excited.”
Alison Mundell, a freshman that has been a driving force for the team, is also eager to run the State competition. Mundell said. “I am really excited to be running State and I am excited for our team. I am kind of nervous though, because so many people are going to be there.”
There were some timing and placement issues for the girls teams during the awards ceremony. The New Prairie Athletic Director and race officials had to go back to the tape for the final results. After careful review, Valparaiso placed 2nd with only a four point margin.
The top six schools advancing to State are (1) West Lafayette 66, (2) Valparaiso 70 (3) Crown Point 102, (4) Portage 157, (5) Eastern Greentown 162 and (6) Lake Central 169
Varsity times:
4 Katelyn DeVries 18:39.
5 10 Alison Mundell 19:12.0
12 Tiffany Fortney 19:16.7
17 Bigger 19:24.7
41 Joll 20:17.3
86 Despoy 21:14.1
101 Tullis 21:41.8
The State meet will be held on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course at the Wabash Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, IN Sept. 29, 2011. Race starts at 12:00 central time with the boys race.
Thank you Chris Joll for contributing photos!