DELTA SECTIONAL PREVIEW 2021:
ECIRunner takes a look at the upcoming Delta Sectional meet and the teams and individuals to keep track of on Saturday.
BOYS
What to watch for at this Saturday's Delta Sectional Meet in the Boys's Race
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FAVORITES
Monroe Central: The two-time defending Delta Sectional champs will be looking for the three-peat this Saturday when they head to the Academy Barn with lots of returning championship experience at their disposal. Up front for the Bears will be senior Tucker Burris (who was the 2020 Delta Sectional individual champion) as well as fellow senior Carter Miller to set the tone for Monroe Central. The Bears round out their top five with a solid 3-5 group of sophomore Eli Chamberlain, senior Kyler Shumaker and junior Caden Landis, all of whom were key contributors to the Bears sectional championship success last year.
Wapahani: The Raiders are coming off of their best meet of the year last week at the MEC where the Raiders were able to cram three runners in the top five and all five scoring runners in the top ten to claim the conference title. Leading the charge for Wapahani this year has been sophomore Nick Cook, whose PR of 16:24 set at IWU earlier this year will put him amongst the favorites for the individual crown. Following Cook are seniors Brandon Ellis and Drayden Gates and juniors Colton Boggs and Payton Baker who will all be looking to build off of last week's momentum as they set their sights at the Delta Sectional this weekend.
POTENTIAL DARK HORSES
Muncie Central: This young Bearcats team (there is not a single senior on the varsity roster) has been steadily improving all season long and are coming off their best meet of the season at the North Central Conference Meet where they placed four runners under the 18-minute mark. Leading the way for Muncie Central is freshman Hayden Bradford, whose time of 17:07 run at the NCC meet last week puts him among the fastest freshmen in ECI in recent years. Bradford's support system includes sophomore Gabe Reynolds, junior Princeton Young and freshman LJ Strange.
Yorktown: On the Tiger's roster is senior Luke Harber, who has the fastest time in ECI all season long with a 16:22 run at IWU earlier this year and with that, the 2021 Delaware County individual champ will give his team a low stick that they would need for the team calculations. Aside from Harber, senior teammate Ryan Bade has been a solid contributor for the Tigers as well as the Yorktown 3-5 runners of Gannon Crosser, Jonathon Loney and Sam Brumley.
REGIONAL HOPEFULS
Daleville: The Broncos used good pack running to sneak into the last regional spot last year and will have to rely on the same thing this year to punch a ticket to next Saturday's Delta Regional. Daleville will call upon three freshmen in their top 5 to run well this weekend, including lead-freshmen Noah Colvin.
Delta: The Eagles will count on junior's Clay Batio and Caden Clark to lead them to a regional berth this Saturday. Both Clark and Batio have raced in the 17's this year with Batio consistently being ranked in ECI Runner's Top 10 all season long.
Muncie Burris: Like Delta, Burris will be looking at their top two runners Michael Canfield and Henry Cooper to pace the Owls to the regional race. Canfield has a season-record best time of 17:44 this season and Cooper has a SR of 18:20.
Union City: Union City's Conner Walser has emerged as an elite runner across ECI this season and will be looking to lead his teammates to the Delta Regional on Saturday. Behind Walser and his season-best time of 17:27 are a trio of Indian freshmen including Conner Cline, Donavon Shinaver and Ronald Dotson who will for sure be looking for some postseason success as they grow their young team.
Winchester: The Falcons are another young and hungry team that will be looking to land a regional spot on Saturday. Led by junior Aidan Moystner, Winchester has arguably been the most improved team of 2021 and will look to continue that improvement by competing as a team next weekend.
Top 20 times of 2021 heading into the Delta Sectional:
1.16:22 Luke Harber (Yorktown)
2. 16:24 Nick Ellis (Wapahani)
3. 16:52 Tucker Burris (Monroe Central)
4. 17:06 Carter Miller (Monroe Central)
5. 17:07 Hayden Bradford (Muncie Central)
6. 17:12 Clay Batio (Delta)
7. 17:15 Brandon Ellis (Wapahani)
8. 17:25 Eli Chamberlain (Monroe Central)
9. 17:27 Conner Walser (Union City)
10. 17:29 Kyler Shumaker (Monroe Central)
11. 17:36 Drayden Gates (Wapahani)
12. 17:40 Caden Clark (Delta)
13. 17:41 Aidan Moystner (Winchester)
14. 17:41 Colton Boggs (Wapahani)
15. 17:44 Gabe Reynolds (Muncie Central)
16. 17:44 Michael Canfield (Muncie Burris)
17. 17:46 Ryan Bade (Yorktown)
18. 17:47 Princeton Young (Muncie Central)
19. 17:48 LJ Strange (Muncie Central)
20. 17:55 Payton Baker (Wapahani)
GIRLS
What to watch for at this Saturday's Delta Sectional Meet in the Girl's Race
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FAVORITES
Delta Eagles: The reigning Delta Sectional Champion will be looking to repeat as they bring back the top two finishers from last year’s meet in Nicki Southerland (defending champion) and Makalya Robles (defending runner-up). These two runners will be the clear favorites to go 1-2 again this year. Delta will rely on 3-5 runners Olivia Bohanon, Camyrn Eldridge and Addison Shue to shuffle themselves ahead of their respective packs to try to secure another sectional championship for the Eagles.
Yorktown Tigers: The Lady Tigers will rely on not one, but three runners up front on Saturday including senior Grace Huisman, junior Alison Smith and Rachael Stagge, with all three having sub 22-minute races this season. Yorktown will also have a trio of quality freshmen to round out their top five in Tori Oliver, Ally Romano and Sophia Goller as they seek the top team spot this weekend.
POTENTIAL DARK HORSE
Monroe Central Golden Bears: Coming off an MEC championship last week, this Monroe Central will look for a coveted sectional championship this week. Leading the Lady Bear attack is sophomore Addison Coe who has a season best time of 21:00 run at IWU this year. Followed by fellow sophomore Katie Osborne (who also ran sub 22-minutes last week) the Bears will have a formidable 1-2 punch that will certainly be looking to contend at the top of the sectional field. Along with the Puckett sisters (Karly and Addison) and Kelsie Gaddis, Monroe Central Bears should have a strong scoring five this weekend.
REGIONAL HOPEFULS
Cowan: The Blackhawks will lean on junior Brynn Wright (who has a season best time of 21:18) and senior Lauren Smith (who ran a season best time of 22:39 at the MEC last week) to lead the Cowan as they will be looking to return to next weekend’s regional.
Wapahani: With top runner Kendyl Thrasher starting to return to form after missing much of the early part of the year due to injury, and the emergence of fellow junior Maddie Felton (who was a PR of 22:27 ran at the Delaware County meet this year), the Lady Raiders will be eyeing to punch one of the last tickets to next week’s Delta Regional.
Wes-Del: This Wes-Del team ran perhaps it’s best team meet of the season last week at the MEC with it’s second place team finish. With a formidable top two of Emmy Justin and Jaci Knott alongside a 3-5 group of Samantha Ross, Kaitlyn Banister and Andrea Stoughton (that all ran season-best times last week) and Lady Warriors will definitely be eying a Delta Regional berth this weekend.
Top 20 times of 2021 heading into the Delta Sectional:
1. 17:27 Nicki Southerland (Delta)
2. 19:49 Makayla Robles (Delta)
3. 20:18 Olivia Keesling (Randolph Southern)
4. 21:00 Addison Coe (Monroe Central)
5. 21:07 Delaney Strange (Muncie Central)
6. 21:13 Faith Norris (Daleville)
7. 21:15 Lilly Pierce (Union)
8. 21:18 Brynn Wright (Cowan)
9. 21:19 Lindy Wood (Jay County)
10. 21:27 Grace Huisman (Yorktown)
11. 21.29 Alison Smith (Yorktown)
12. 21:45 Rachael Stagge (Yorktown)
13. 21:46 Katie Osborne (Monroe Central)
14. 22:04 Kendyl Thrasher (Wapahani)
15. 22:15 Emmy Justin (Wes-Del)
16. 22:20 Abi Covert (Daleville)
17. 22:27 Maddie Felton (Wapahani)
18. 22:30 Olivia Covert (Daleville)
19. 22:34 Tori Oliver (Yorktown)
20. 22:36 Jaci Knott (Wes-Del)
What to watch for at this Saturday's Delta Sectional Meet in the Boys's Race
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FAVORITES
Monroe Central: The two-time defending Delta Sectional champs will be looking for the three-peat this Saturday when they head to the Academy Barn with lots of returning championship experience at their disposal. Up front for the Bears will be senior Tucker Burris (who was the 2020 Delta Sectional individual champion) as well as fellow senior Carter Miller to set the tone for Monroe Central. The Bears round out their top five with a solid 3-5 group of sophomore Eli Chamberlain, senior Kyler Shumaker and junior Caden Landis, all of whom were key contributors to the Bears sectional championship success last year.
Wapahani: The Raiders are coming off of their best meet of the year last week at the MEC where the Raiders were able to cram three runners in the top five and all five scoring runners in the top ten to claim the conference title. Leading the charge for Wapahani this year has been sophomore Nick Cook, whose PR of 16:24 set at IWU earlier this year will put him amongst the favorites for the individual crown. Following Cook are seniors Brandon Ellis and Drayden Gates and juniors Colton Boggs and Payton Baker who will all be looking to build off of last week's momentum as they set their sights at the Delta Sectional this weekend.
POTENTIAL DARK HORSES
Muncie Central: This young Bearcats team (there is not a single senior on the varsity roster) has been steadily improving all season long and are coming off their best meet of the season at the North Central Conference Meet where they placed four runners under the 18-minute mark. Leading the way for Muncie Central is freshman Hayden Bradford, whose time of 17:07 run at the NCC meet last week puts him among the fastest freshmen in ECI in recent years. Bradford's support system includes sophomore Gabe Reynolds, junior Princeton Young and freshman LJ Strange.
Yorktown: On the Tiger's roster is senior Luke Harber, who has the fastest time in ECI all season long with a 16:22 run at IWU earlier this year and with that, the 2021 Delaware County individual champ will give his team a low stick that they would need for the team calculations. Aside from Harber, senior teammate Ryan Bade has been a solid contributor for the Tigers as well as the Yorktown 3-5 runners of Gannon Crosser, Jonathon Loney and Sam Brumley.
REGIONAL HOPEFULS
Daleville: The Broncos used good pack running to sneak into the last regional spot last year and will have to rely on the same thing this year to punch a ticket to next Saturday's Delta Regional. Daleville will call upon three freshmen in their top 5 to run well this weekend, including lead-freshmen Noah Colvin.
Delta: The Eagles will count on junior's Clay Batio and Caden Clark to lead them to a regional berth this Saturday. Both Clark and Batio have raced in the 17's this year with Batio consistently being ranked in ECI Runner's Top 10 all season long.
Muncie Burris: Like Delta, Burris will be looking at their top two runners Michael Canfield and Henry Cooper to pace the Owls to the regional race. Canfield has a season-record best time of 17:44 this season and Cooper has a SR of 18:20.
Union City: Union City's Conner Walser has emerged as an elite runner across ECI this season and will be looking to lead his teammates to the Delta Regional on Saturday. Behind Walser and his season-best time of 17:27 are a trio of Indian freshmen including Conner Cline, Donavon Shinaver and Ronald Dotson who will for sure be looking for some postseason success as they grow their young team.
Winchester: The Falcons are another young and hungry team that will be looking to land a regional spot on Saturday. Led by junior Aidan Moystner, Winchester has arguably been the most improved team of 2021 and will look to continue that improvement by competing as a team next weekend.
Top 20 times of 2021 heading into the Delta Sectional:
1.16:22 Luke Harber (Yorktown)
2. 16:24 Nick Ellis (Wapahani)
3. 16:52 Tucker Burris (Monroe Central)
4. 17:06 Carter Miller (Monroe Central)
5. 17:07 Hayden Bradford (Muncie Central)
6. 17:12 Clay Batio (Delta)
7. 17:15 Brandon Ellis (Wapahani)
8. 17:25 Eli Chamberlain (Monroe Central)
9. 17:27 Conner Walser (Union City)
10. 17:29 Kyler Shumaker (Monroe Central)
11. 17:36 Drayden Gates (Wapahani)
12. 17:40 Caden Clark (Delta)
13. 17:41 Aidan Moystner (Winchester)
14. 17:41 Colton Boggs (Wapahani)
15. 17:44 Gabe Reynolds (Muncie Central)
16. 17:44 Michael Canfield (Muncie Burris)
17. 17:46 Ryan Bade (Yorktown)
18. 17:47 Princeton Young (Muncie Central)
19. 17:48 LJ Strange (Muncie Central)
20. 17:55 Payton Baker (Wapahani)
GIRLS
What to watch for at this Saturday's Delta Sectional Meet in the Girl's Race
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FAVORITES
Delta Eagles: The reigning Delta Sectional Champion will be looking to repeat as they bring back the top two finishers from last year’s meet in Nicki Southerland (defending champion) and Makalya Robles (defending runner-up). These two runners will be the clear favorites to go 1-2 again this year. Delta will rely on 3-5 runners Olivia Bohanon, Camyrn Eldridge and Addison Shue to shuffle themselves ahead of their respective packs to try to secure another sectional championship for the Eagles.
Yorktown Tigers: The Lady Tigers will rely on not one, but three runners up front on Saturday including senior Grace Huisman, junior Alison Smith and Rachael Stagge, with all three having sub 22-minute races this season. Yorktown will also have a trio of quality freshmen to round out their top five in Tori Oliver, Ally Romano and Sophia Goller as they seek the top team spot this weekend.
POTENTIAL DARK HORSE
Monroe Central Golden Bears: Coming off an MEC championship last week, this Monroe Central will look for a coveted sectional championship this week. Leading the Lady Bear attack is sophomore Addison Coe who has a season best time of 21:00 run at IWU this year. Followed by fellow sophomore Katie Osborne (who also ran sub 22-minutes last week) the Bears will have a formidable 1-2 punch that will certainly be looking to contend at the top of the sectional field. Along with the Puckett sisters (Karly and Addison) and Kelsie Gaddis, Monroe Central Bears should have a strong scoring five this weekend.
REGIONAL HOPEFULS
Cowan: The Blackhawks will lean on junior Brynn Wright (who has a season best time of 21:18) and senior Lauren Smith (who ran a season best time of 22:39 at the MEC last week) to lead the Cowan as they will be looking to return to next weekend’s regional.
Wapahani: With top runner Kendyl Thrasher starting to return to form after missing much of the early part of the year due to injury, and the emergence of fellow junior Maddie Felton (who was a PR of 22:27 ran at the Delaware County meet this year), the Lady Raiders will be eyeing to punch one of the last tickets to next week’s Delta Regional.
Wes-Del: This Wes-Del team ran perhaps it’s best team meet of the season last week at the MEC with it’s second place team finish. With a formidable top two of Emmy Justin and Jaci Knott alongside a 3-5 group of Samantha Ross, Kaitlyn Banister and Andrea Stoughton (that all ran season-best times last week) and Lady Warriors will definitely be eying a Delta Regional berth this weekend.
Top 20 times of 2021 heading into the Delta Sectional:
1. 17:27 Nicki Southerland (Delta)
2. 19:49 Makayla Robles (Delta)
3. 20:18 Olivia Keesling (Randolph Southern)
4. 21:00 Addison Coe (Monroe Central)
5. 21:07 Delaney Strange (Muncie Central)
6. 21:13 Faith Norris (Daleville)
7. 21:15 Lilly Pierce (Union)
8. 21:18 Brynn Wright (Cowan)
9. 21:19 Lindy Wood (Jay County)
10. 21:27 Grace Huisman (Yorktown)
11. 21.29 Alison Smith (Yorktown)
12. 21:45 Rachael Stagge (Yorktown)
13. 21:46 Katie Osborne (Monroe Central)
14. 22:04 Kendyl Thrasher (Wapahani)
15. 22:15 Emmy Justin (Wes-Del)
16. 22:20 Abi Covert (Daleville)
17. 22:27 Maddie Felton (Wapahani)
18. 22:30 Olivia Covert (Daleville)
19. 22:34 Tori Oliver (Yorktown)
20. 22:36 Jaci Knott (Wes-Del)
