With the 2023 ECI Cross-Country season half over we thought it was a great time to push out a mid-season review for every team in the ECI Runner broadcast area.
Blackford- Leading the way for the Bruins this season has been senior Allison Clamme. So far this season Clamme has stacked up three different top 5 finishes and currently has a season best time of 21:26.
Blue River Valley- The Lady Vikings team includes three quality runners in Lilyan Guffey, Sydney Fellers and Charlee Gibson. Gibson in particular, who has goals of making the state meet this year, has had a stellar season including five different invite wins. Thus far, Gibson has championship medals from the Blue River Early Bird, Jeremy Wright, Rushville, Union City and Randolph Southern Invites.
Cowan- With four girls on the roster, the Lady Blackhawks top runner this season has been Sara Nichols, who has notched two top 5 finishes this year and has a season best time of 22:57.
Daleville- At the midpoint of the season the Lady Broncos are one of the most decorated teams in all of ECI with team trophies and individual championships everywhere. Teamwise, Daleville has amassed three invite wins at the Ethan Cheesman Invite, Phil Clay Invite and Landes Invite. Individually, Daleville has the top dyanmic duo in the area in senior Faith Norris and freshman Kynlie Keffer. The state hopeful Norris' accolades so far include five individual invite wins.
Delta- The Lady Eagles have been in pursuit of building a quality five all season long to make a push into this years regional and appears to be doing that under the front running of Nicki Southerland and solid runs from number two runner Kylee Robles. As for Southerland, she wins a lot, and will be looking to continue to win as she pursues an individual IHSAA State Championship next month.
Jay County- The Lady Patriots top runner this year has been Alexis Sibray. A regional qualifier a season ago as a freshman, Sibray currently has a season best time of 22:15 ran at the Randolph Southern Invite.
Monroe Central- The defending Delta Sectional Champions have flexed again this season as is apparent with invite wins at the Wapahani and Randolph Southern Invitationals. Leading the way for the Bears has been senior Addison Coe, who has multiple top 3 finishes already this season.
Muncie Burris- The Owls are led up front by the duo of Beatrice Cooper and Sydney McFarren. McFarren, a semi-state qualifier last season, currently has a season best time this season of 22:16 where her junior teammate Cooper has ran just one second better at 22:15.
Muncie Central- After not a single top 5 finish last year, senior Samantha Fowler has been on a tear in 2023 doing it already four times this season. At the top of Fowlers top performances has been an individual invite win at the Union Ethan Cheesman Invite and a PR of 20:50 ran at Yorktown's Jim Leffler Invite this past weekend.
New Castle- The New Castle Invite Champs has been steadily improving all season as they eye a team regional berth in the weeks ahead. Leading the way for the Trojans have been a trio of runners who have all gone sub-22 minutes this season including Lauren Gilman, Sylvie Terrell and Anyah Amman. Amman has also elevated herself to being one of the best runners in all of ECI with a PR ran of 19:57 earlier this season.
Randolph Southern- The Lady Rebels got a taste of team success earlier this season when they hoisted the team trophy at the Blue River Early Bird Invite and will be looking for more success in the weeks ahead as championship season approaches. Up front for Southern is the combo of Haileigh Allen and Allie Black. Both runners have three top 5 finishes so far this season with Black (Blue River) and Allen (Centerville) both finishing runner-up one time each.
Shenandoah- With the entire top 7 being made of underclassmen this Lady Raider team certainly is on the short list for teams to "watch out for" in the years ahead. As for this years team, Shenandoah is anchored by lead girl Kayci Hill, who sports a season best time of 21:10 so far. Not too far behind is freshman Hayden Patterson who is showing lots of improvement as the season moves forward.
Union- The only girl on Union's roster this season has been senior Lilly Pierce who has continued her solid four year XC career with another good senior campaign. Pierce's top performance so far this season has been a top 10 finish at the Wapahani Invite.
Union City- The Lady Indians lone runner, Ava Jefferies has helped put XC on the map in Union City, Indiana with consistently strong performances all season long including four top 10 finishes and two top 5 finishes. The junior has a season best time of 22:20 so far this year.
Wapahani- The Lady Raiders have proved to have one of the deeper 1-5 teams in ECI and will need that depth in hopes of trying to punch a ticket to next month's regional meet. Leading the charge for Wapahani has been first year runner AnnMarie Gibson, who currently has a personal best time of 21:05 ran at the Burris Phil Clay Invite. Behind Gibson has been a trio of girls including Lilly Neal, Judy Dargo and Ava Cook who have all dipped into the mid-22's as of late.
Wes-Del- With two girls on the roster, the Warriors team consist of Caroline Caward and Kaitlyn Banister. So far, Caward has been tops for Wes-Del with a season best time of 24:27.
Winchester- The Lady Falcons team has soared high already this season being crowned the Union County Invite champions, in a season that has included several strong performances from Winchester's team. Up front for the Falcons has been Mariah Manning, who was also the individual winner of the Union County Invite.
Yorktown- The Delaware County champions has had strong runs from numerous runners all season long, including All-Delaware County runners Alysha Crouch, Tori Oliver, Aurilla Moulton, Abby Goller and Sophia Gollier. In the mix as well has been freshmen Addison Embry and Callie Jones, both whom have gone sub-22 minutes this season. The low stick for the Lady Tigers this season has gone to senior Alysha Crouch, who has made a huge jump since her junior season to give Yorktown a formidable number one runner heading into championship season.
Blackford- Leading the way for the Bruins this season has been senior Allison Clamme. So far this season Clamme has stacked up three different top 5 finishes and currently has a season best time of 21:26.
Blue River Valley- The Lady Vikings team includes three quality runners in Lilyan Guffey, Sydney Fellers and Charlee Gibson. Gibson in particular, who has goals of making the state meet this year, has had a stellar season including five different invite wins. Thus far, Gibson has championship medals from the Blue River Early Bird, Jeremy Wright, Rushville, Union City and Randolph Southern Invites.
Cowan- With four girls on the roster, the Lady Blackhawks top runner this season has been Sara Nichols, who has notched two top 5 finishes this year and has a season best time of 22:57.
Daleville- At the midpoint of the season the Lady Broncos are one of the most decorated teams in all of ECI with team trophies and individual championships everywhere. Teamwise, Daleville has amassed three invite wins at the Ethan Cheesman Invite, Phil Clay Invite and Landes Invite. Individually, Daleville has the top dyanmic duo in the area in senior Faith Norris and freshman Kynlie Keffer. The state hopeful Norris' accolades so far include five individual invite wins.
Delta- The Lady Eagles have been in pursuit of building a quality five all season long to make a push into this years regional and appears to be doing that under the front running of Nicki Southerland and solid runs from number two runner Kylee Robles. As for Southerland, she wins a lot, and will be looking to continue to win as she pursues an individual IHSAA State Championship next month.
Jay County- The Lady Patriots top runner this year has been Alexis Sibray. A regional qualifier a season ago as a freshman, Sibray currently has a season best time of 22:15 ran at the Randolph Southern Invite.
Monroe Central- The defending Delta Sectional Champions have flexed again this season as is apparent with invite wins at the Wapahani and Randolph Southern Invitationals. Leading the way for the Bears has been senior Addison Coe, who has multiple top 3 finishes already this season.
Muncie Burris- The Owls are led up front by the duo of Beatrice Cooper and Sydney McFarren. McFarren, a semi-state qualifier last season, currently has a season best time this season of 22:16 where her junior teammate Cooper has ran just one second better at 22:15.
Muncie Central- After not a single top 5 finish last year, senior Samantha Fowler has been on a tear in 2023 doing it already four times this season. At the top of Fowlers top performances has been an individual invite win at the Union Ethan Cheesman Invite and a PR of 20:50 ran at Yorktown's Jim Leffler Invite this past weekend.
New Castle- The New Castle Invite Champs has been steadily improving all season as they eye a team regional berth in the weeks ahead. Leading the way for the Trojans have been a trio of runners who have all gone sub-22 minutes this season including Lauren Gilman, Sylvie Terrell and Anyah Amman. Amman has also elevated herself to being one of the best runners in all of ECI with a PR ran of 19:57 earlier this season.
Randolph Southern- The Lady Rebels got a taste of team success earlier this season when they hoisted the team trophy at the Blue River Early Bird Invite and will be looking for more success in the weeks ahead as championship season approaches. Up front for Southern is the combo of Haileigh Allen and Allie Black. Both runners have three top 5 finishes so far this season with Black (Blue River) and Allen (Centerville) both finishing runner-up one time each.
Shenandoah- With the entire top 7 being made of underclassmen this Lady Raider team certainly is on the short list for teams to "watch out for" in the years ahead. As for this years team, Shenandoah is anchored by lead girl Kayci Hill, who sports a season best time of 21:10 so far. Not too far behind is freshman Hayden Patterson who is showing lots of improvement as the season moves forward.
Union- The only girl on Union's roster this season has been senior Lilly Pierce who has continued her solid four year XC career with another good senior campaign. Pierce's top performance so far this season has been a top 10 finish at the Wapahani Invite.
Union City- The Lady Indians lone runner, Ava Jefferies has helped put XC on the map in Union City, Indiana with consistently strong performances all season long including four top 10 finishes and two top 5 finishes. The junior has a season best time of 22:20 so far this year.
Wapahani- The Lady Raiders have proved to have one of the deeper 1-5 teams in ECI and will need that depth in hopes of trying to punch a ticket to next month's regional meet. Leading the charge for Wapahani has been first year runner AnnMarie Gibson, who currently has a personal best time of 21:05 ran at the Burris Phil Clay Invite. Behind Gibson has been a trio of girls including Lilly Neal, Judy Dargo and Ava Cook who have all dipped into the mid-22's as of late.
Wes-Del- With two girls on the roster, the Warriors team consist of Caroline Caward and Kaitlyn Banister. So far, Caward has been tops for Wes-Del with a season best time of 24:27.
Winchester- The Lady Falcons team has soared high already this season being crowned the Union County Invite champions, in a season that has included several strong performances from Winchester's team. Up front for the Falcons has been Mariah Manning, who was also the individual winner of the Union County Invite.
Yorktown- The Delaware County champions has had strong runs from numerous runners all season long, including All-Delaware County runners Alysha Crouch, Tori Oliver, Aurilla Moulton, Abby Goller and Sophia Gollier. In the mix as well has been freshmen Addison Embry and Callie Jones, both whom have gone sub-22 minutes this season. The low stick for the Lady Tigers this season has gone to senior Alysha Crouch, who has made a huge jump since her junior season to give Yorktown a formidable number one runner heading into championship season.
