October 30, 2010
CULVER ACADEMIES’ WAVERLY NEER TOP INDIVIDUAL, CARMEL GIRLS WIN TEAM TITLE
Culver Academies senior Waverly Neer won the individual title in the second-closest finish in state meet history and the Carmel girls won the team championship during the 30th Annual IHSAA Girls Cross Country State Finals in Terre Haute.
Neer (18:17.5) edged out Bloomington South’s Nicole Lucas (18:18.2) at the finish by 0.7 seconds to capture her first individual crown and the second state championship of her career. As a freshman in 2007, Neer was a member of Westfield’s state championship team and finished 23rd overall in that race. She’s competed for Culver Academies since her sophomore year when she finished 14th overall and followed that with a seventh place finish a year ago.
Only the 1982 state meet, decided by 0.5 seconds, a closer finish.
Carmel’s Sarah Bennett finished third in 18:29.2, Brianna Johnson of Carroll (Fort Wayne) was fourth in 18:33.5 and West Lafayette’s Kaisa Goodman, who captured the mental attitude award after the meet, was fifth in 18:34.3.
With 73 points, the Greyhounds celebrated their 12th state championship in the sport, their second in three years and first under coach Mark Ellington.
Defending champion Columbus North placed second with 118, West Lafayette was third at 173, Franklin Central was fourth at 202 and Carroll (Fort Wayne) was fifth at 206.
Bennett was followed to the finish line by teammates Renee Wellman in eight place (18:36.8), Gina Genco was 22nd (19:04.3), Allison Jacobsen was 27th (19:12.3) and Alex Chitwood ended 44th (19:29.0).
WEST LAFAYETTE’S KAISA GOODMAN WINS MENTAL ATTITUDE AWARD
During the post-race awards ceremony, West Lafayette senior Kaisa Goodman was named the winner of this year’s mental attitude award.
Goodman finished fifth overall in the state meet after winning the sectional and regional races and finishing as the semi-state runner-up.
She is undecided on her college choice but intends to study chemistry and minor in Spanish.
The senior was honored with a plaque and a $1,000 scholarship from Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance was presented to West Lafayette High School in her name.
She is the daughter of Elizabeth Kornblum of Battle Ground, Ind.