The East Central girls cross country squad won the team championship trophy while the Trojans boys came in third at the Richmond Invitational on Saturday at Indiana University East.
EC’s girls team dominated the field to secure 1st place overall with 35 points, holding off Marion (40 points) and Richmond (47 points).
Senior Lily Gambrel set the tone for the entire meet, capturing the individual title with a time of 21:04.1 (40 seconds faster than a year ago).
Junior Alyssa Donawerth provided excellent front-running support, crossing the line in 4th place overall at 22:39.2.
Senior Lydia Middendorf (24:53.4) and freshman Grace Jacobsen (25:19.6) stepped up huge as the team’s third and fourth runners, placing 10th and 12th respectively.
Junior Josie West sealed the team victory as the crucial fifth scorer, clocking 26:13.5.
Freshmen Josie Ryan (26:23.8) and senior Olivia Egan (26:29.0) ran excellent races as the displacement runners and secured the low score.
In the boys’ 5K, East Central placed 3rd overall with 55 points, finishing just a few points shy of Marion (50 points) in a race won by host Richmond (23 points).
Senior Abram Hiltz led the Trojan pack with a good performance, crossing the line in 9th place overall with a time of 18:25.0.
Senior Anthony Toler was on his heels, finishing 11th overall in 18:48.7.
Sophomore Daniel Broering kept the gap tight as the third Trojan finisher, clocking 19:18.5.
The freshman duo of Cooper Middendorf (19:47.7) and Bentley Reinier (20:16.6) rounded out the scoring five.
Sophomore Ostyn Gellert (21:16.2) and junior Haydn Nix (21:56.7) fought hard as the sixth and seventh varsity runners.
EC assistant coach Fr. Jonathan Meyer says the boys and girls teams braved a wet and muddy course to deliver outstanding performances.
“It was an amazing start to the season on a rain-softened course, proving that the Trojans are ready to compete with the area’s best when the conditions demand grit,” Fr. Meyer said.