Riggins, Hughes going to regional

White River Valley senior Jennifer Hughes (center) runs between a pair of Bloomington South runners at the girls cross country sectional at Brown County Tuesday. Hughes finished 10th and qualified for the regional. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

Sports Editor

NASHVILLE -- White River Valley senior Jennifer Hughes and Bloomfield freshman Julie Riggins both finished in the top 15 at the Brown County girls cross country sectional here Tuesday at Eagle Creek Park.

They were the two Greene County participants that will be advancing to Saturday's regional on the same course.

Hughes, who has been plagued with injuries the past two seasons, found a spot among the leaders and stayed there throughout the 3.1 mile race. Hughes finished 10th with a time of 20:25.

"It was really hot and humid," said Hughes, who advanced to the semistate in 2005 but not out of the sectional the past two seasons. "I pretty much wanted to go out with the leaders and stay with them as long as I could."

Riggins moved up with the leaders as well, running in the top 15 throughout the race. Riggins placed 14th with a time of 20:39. The top 15 individuals not on qualifying teams advanced.

"That was not my best race, but I am going to the regional," said Riggins. "I just wanted to come over here and run the best race I could.

"I have run quicker, but the important thing is to have a chance to run again Saturday."

Eastern Greene sophomore Sydney Spice came up short in her bid to make a second consecutive regional. She was timed at 23:07, placing 42nd.

Bloomington South took five of the top eight spots, including individual winner Nicole Lucas, and won the team title with 24 points.

Bloomington North, Edgewood, Mooresville and Martinsville rounded out the top five. All will advance to the regional as the top five teams scores qualify.

Bloomfield finished eighth with 212 points. WRV and Eastern Greene did not have the five runners required to compile a team score.

In the boys race, Eastern Greene finished sixth for the second consecutive year.

South won with 36 points followed by Bloomington North, Martinsville, Edgewood and Mooresville. Those teams will compete at the regional.

Mooresville had 147 points, Eastern Greene 175 and Bloomfield was eighth with 231 points. WRV only had three runners participate.

"It is a tough sectional," said Eastern Greene coach Bill Valentine. "We knew that it would probably come down to Mooresville, Brown County and us for that fifth spot.

"We came up short to Mooresville last year and they got us again this year. We did not run as well as we did during the SWIAC meet, which is like our sectional. It is very difficult for the smaller schools to compete against those 4A and 3A schools."

Brody Martin, a freshman at EGHS, was the top local finisher as he placed 24th with a time of 18:21. He nipped teammate Tyler Igel by two spots and eight seconds.

Andy Cochrane of Bloomfield placed 29th at 18:14.

Ty Robbins of WRV was 70th at 22:49.

The girls regional race at Brown County will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday to be followed by the boys race. The top five teams and top 15 individuals will qualify for the semistate, which will be on the same course Saturday, Oct. 25.

"I know I am going to have to run a lot quicker if I want a shot at going to the semistate," said Hughes. "I am going to have to run in the 19s.

"But it should be a lot cooler than it was tonight. Actually I am hoping for rain."

Brown County

Cross Country

Sectional

Girls

(Top Five teams advance)

1. Bloomington South 24; 2. Bloomington North 70; 3. Edgewood 82; 4. Mooresville 110; 5. Martinsville 132; 6. Monrovia 170; 7. Brown County 189; 8. Bloomfield 212; 9. Owen Valley 230; 10. Cloverdale 29; 11 (tie). White River Valley, Eastern Greene incomplete teams.

Top 15

(Advance to Regional)

1. Nicole Lucas, BS, 19:27; 2. Maggie Wagner, BN, 19:38; 3. Zoe Withered, BN, 19:54; 4. Brooke Bierhaus, BS, 20:04; 5. Carly Derheimer, BS, 20:05; 6. Taylor Wheeler, BS, 20:14; 7. Rebecca Jacobs, ED, 20:16; 8. Erin Brown, BS, 20:20; 9. Ashley Krulik, MA, 20:23; 10. Jennifer Hughes, W, 20:25; 11. Kailyn Baker, MO, 20:27; 12. Allie Hetrick, BS, 20:28; 13. Leah Fiegle, ED, 20:32; 14. Julie Riggins, B, 20:39; 15. Sarah Lewis, BC, 20:48.

Other local finishers

42. Sydney Spice, EG, 23:07; 45. Sarah Miller, B, 23:25; 49. Paige Warren, B, 24:24; 58. Lindley Gremore, B, 26:39; 60. Abby Henry-Byers, W, 26:51; 61. Shana McDonald, W, 26:51; 63. Kelsey Bucher, B, 26:57; 65. Abby Vest, B, 27:18; 68. Shelby Mitchell, EG, 29:02; 69. Kim Huettermann, EG, 29:06; 71. Joanna Holsapple, EG, 29:30; 72. Meaghan Bucher, B, 29:57; 74. Kelsey Anderson, W, 32:43.

Boys

(Top Five teams advance)

1. Bloomington South 36; 2. Bloomington North 54; 3. Martinsville 57; 4. Edgewood 98; 5. Mooresville 147; 6. Eastern Greene 175; 7. Brown County 177; 8. Bloomfield 231; 9. Eminence 277; 10. Monrovia 290; 11. Cloverdale 330; 12. Owen Valley 341. 13. White River Valley, incomplete team.

Top 15

(Advance to Regional)

1. Andrew Buzzelli, BN, 16:11; 2. Joe Holahan, BS, 16:23; 3. Jace Lowry, MA, 16:32; 4. Justin Chen, BS, 16:50; 5. Taylor Lowry, MA, 16:52; 6. Cole Reinhold, ED, 16:58; 7. Matt Astleford, MA, 17:00; 8. Jordan Gornall, BS, 17:01; 9. Steven Zerfas, BN, 17:04; 10. Alex Bristol, BS, 17:08; 11. Clifford Marr, MA, 17:10; 12. Michael Staton, BS, 17:16; 13. Patrick Carter, BN, 17:18; 14. Dan Varna, BN, 17:19; 15. Mike Dobson, BC, 17:21.

Local finishers

24. Brody Martin EG, 18:02; 26. Tyler Igel, EG, 18:10; 29. Andy Cochrane, B, 18:14; 35. J.L. Cullison, EG, 18:34; 44. Tyler Ogden, EG, 18:57; 46. Zach Burner, EG, 19:01; 47. Kyle Smith, B, 19:06; 48. Gavin Thompson, B, 19:07; 50. Travis Pate, EG, 19:09; 51. Keith Milhoan, EG, 19:14; 53. Ryan O'Neall, B, 19:42; 54. Tony Alberson, B, 19:54; 57. Matthew Hanauer, B, 20:07; 58. Keaton Haywood, B, 20:26; 70. Ty Robbins, W, 22:49; 73. Trey Graves, W, 23:06; 79. John Goodman, W, 24:04.