Article By Steven Hendrixson
Last Monday, the Cubs stayed at home at Mill Creek to host this year’s LEIC conference meet. The Cubs, being heavy favorites and hosting the conference meet on their own turf, had high hopes coming into the meet. They did not disappoint. Out of a field of six teams against competitive schools like Newton Jasper County and Paris Mayo, the boys team ended up winning their second ever conference championship in program history with a low combined score of just 21 points and a combined time of 59:07.1. Jasper County, the conference runner up; did not even come close, being beaten out for the title by a whole 34 points!
This championship squad was led by the trio of Griffin Thompson, Grayson Edwards, and Chase Paulson, sweeping the top three podium. They also finished no more than four seconds apart from one another with an 11:29.9, 11:30, and 11:34.2 time from Thompson, Edwards, and Paulson respectively. Teammates Cooper Morey and Emmet Maurer also had All-Conference finishes, with Morey finishing 7th in 12:05.3 and Maurer finishing 10th in 12:27.7. Teammates Owen Ockerman and Sam Wernz also had great runs; with Ockerman finishing 30th in 14:35.3 and Wernz finishing 33rd 14:48.5.
There were several good performances on the girls’ side also. With the highlight of course being Brynna Farrell’s incredible 13:21.2 conference title win, gaping Casey-Westfield’s Harper Littlejohn by over 7 seconds. Teammate Caroline Nave finished 22nd, clocking in at 15:58.8, and Carrigan Crumrin finished 25th in 16:00.7. Molly Cooper finished 29th in 16:30.2, and Charlotte Reed finished 43rd in 22:01.8. The team finished 5th overall with a score of 114 points and a combined time of 1:23:52.7.
Some great times and finishes from both sides.