The Indiana High School Athletic Association’s boys and girls cross country sectional was held Tuesday night at Hanover College, and when the totals were calculated, the Switzerland County boys cross country team advanced to the Pekin Eastern Regional with a fourth place finish.
Silver Creek won the boys sectional with a team score of 48; followed by Jeffersonville with 67; Southwestern with 104; Switzerland County with 126; Rising Sun with 136; Austin with 142; Madison with 179; Charlestown with 187; Scottsburg with 208; Shawe with 241; Henryville with 252; and New Washington with 369.
“This was a total team effort,” Coach Mark Boggs commented. “I can’t express how excited I am for this group of boys. We were lacking a little confidence after last Tuesday at the conference meet. Tonight, I feel like we got it back.”
Senior Josh Snow was the leading runner for the Pacers, finishing 16th overall in a time of 17:42. As Coach Boggs has been stressing all year, Switzerland County advanced to the regional with a strong “pack time”.
The “pack time” is the difference in time between a team’s leading runner and the fifth place runner. The closer those times are, the more bunched and equal the team is, giving it an advantage in invitationals and state meets.
Tuesday night, Jim Abbott was 21st in a time of 18:12; Zach Getz was 24th in 18:26; Travis Webster was 32nd in 18:51; and Clay Meyer was 33rd in 18:51.
That’s just 1:09 between the first and fifth place runners.
Other Switzerland County participants included: Cliff Meyer, 43rd in 19:49; and Matt Johnson, 69th in 22:02.
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Although the Lady Pacers cross country team just missed advancing to the regional by placing sixth as a team, junior Amanda Hon continued her outstanding season by finishing fourth overall and advancing to the regional as an individual, recording a time of 15:55.
Silver Creek won the sectional; followed by Southwestern, Madison, Rising Sun, Jeffersonville, Switzerland County, New Washington, Henryville, and Scottsburg.
Other Switzerland County runners included April Thieman, 32nd place in 18:48; Beth Abbott, 34th in 18:56; Shana Todd, 38th in 19:29; Ashley Bright, 50th in 20:48; and Heather Thomas, 55th in 21:11.
“This is a wonderful group of girls to work with,” Coach Boggs said. “Unfortunately our season stops here, but it has been a lot of fun. Each girl ran a personal best on the sectional course. I am extremely proud of them.”