Wheeler's Michelle Dela Vina and the Valparaiso girls team ran to victory in the 19^th Annual Indiana High School Athletic Association Girls Cross Country State Finals on Saturday at the Indiana University Cross Country Course in Bloomington.

The Valparaiso girls team landed its first cross country state championship outscoring runner-up Lawrence North by a wide margin on a clear, sunny day that reached 70 degrees. The Vikings five scoring runners all placed in the top 22 to accumulate just 46 points to Lawrence North's 91. West Noble was third with 166, Carmel was fourth at 181 and New Albany rounded out the top five at 190.

The Vikings were led by junior Jill Scully, who finished seventh overall in 14:45.69. Also placing for the state champions were sophomore Natalie Karas in 12^th (14:58.17), sophomore Shawna Florida in 17^th (15:00.66), junior Jaime Higginbotham in 18^th (15:00.96) and junior Meagan Curtis placed 22^nd (15:04.05).

Dela Vina, who finished third a year ago in this meet, led virtually the entire way building a lead throughout the 4,000 meter race. Dela Vina crossed the line in 14:06.25, more than 23 seconds ahead of second place finisher Robyn Detty of Lawrence North, who clocked in at 14:29.41. Placing third overall was Morgan Uceny of Plymouth (14:38.47), while Winter Holman of Brownstown Central was fourth (14:42.23) and Jessica Dietrich of New Albany in fifth (14:44.09).

It was the third IHSAA state championship in the last five months for DelaVina. The junior captured the 1600 and 3200 meter races at the IHSAA Girls Track and Field State Finals last June to win the first state titles of any kind in her school's history.

Lisa Nicholson of Anderson Highland High School was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Girls Mental Attitude Award in Girls Cross Country. Nicholson finished 15^th in the state cross country meet and served as her team's captain this year. Academically, she ranks 14^th in her senior class, earning academic honors throughout her four years of high school. She plans to study Elementary Education and Family Counseling at Anderson University. Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Anderson Highland High School in the name of Nicholson.