Winamac frosh Burns, Bonnell advance to regional as individuals

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Cross-country

Both the Winamac girls and boys cross-country teams finished eighth at the Rensselaer sectional Saturday, but freshmen Jillian Burns and Brady Bonnell advanced to next week’s regional as individuals.

The top five teams and top 15 individuals in each race advanced to the regional, which New Prairie will host at 11:30 a.m. Eastern this Saturday.

DeMotte Christian won both the girls and boys team titles.

The DeMotte Christian girls scored 34 points in winning their first sectional title in school history. Kankakee Valley (55), Rensselaer (71), Tri-County (77) and West Central (131) also advanced. Winamac scored 202 points.

Burns finished 43rd in the field of 65 runners in 25:07. She finished 14th among individuals on non-advancing teams.

Other Winamac runners included Brooklyn Jachim, who was 50th in 27:52; Kallie Kasten, who was 52nd in 28:19; Katelyn Burgess, who was right behind Kasten in 53rd in 28:20; and Jaelyn Huddleston, who was 62nd in 34:14.

Jachim, Kasten and Huddleston are the team’s seniors.

“Jillian Burns paced the squad with a fantastic, determined race,” Winamac coach Mike Haschel said in a statement.

Kankakee Valley’s Krista Sytsma was the individual champion in 17:49.

The DeMotte Christian boys scored 24 points in winning their third consecutive sectional. Kankakee Valley (92), Tri-County (95), Rensselaer (103) and Benton Central (111) also advanced.

Winamac scored 212 points.

Bonnell was timed in 18:14 and finished 21st in the field of 80 runners. He was sixth among individuals on non-advancing teams.

“Demonstrating fantastic tactical awareness, Brody Bonnell earned an individual advancement to the regional round by finishing as one of the top 15 overall runners not on an advancing qualifying team,” Haschel said.

Teammates Ethan Showley, Braylen Becker and Elisha Burns finished 51st, 52nd and 53rd in 20:37, 20:40.1 and 20:40.4, respectively. Evan Burgess followed in 21:08 and finished 57th, Austin Pratt was 62nd in 21:21, and Joel Showley was 76th in 23:26.

Elisha Burns and Joel Showley are the seniors.

DeMotte Christian’s Easton Drain was the individual champion in 16:43.

RENSSELAER GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY SECTIONAL RESULTS (POINTS IN PARENTHESES): DeMotte Christian 34, Kankakee Valley 55, Rensselaer 71, Tri-County 77, West Central 131, North Judson 167, Frontier 201, WINAMAC 202

Winamac results (202 points, eighth place)

43. Jillian Burns – 25:07 (34), 50. Brooklyn Jachim – 27:52 (39), 52. Kallie Kasten – 28:19 (40), 53. Katelyn Burgess – 28:20 (41), 62. Jaelyn Huddleston – 34:14 (48)

Top 15 individuals on non-advancing teams: 1. Lillian Weigle (Benton Central) – 18:20, 2. Harlo Holder (Benton Central) – 19:30, 3. Hannah Schoenbeck (South Newton) – 20:14, 4. Maggie Rayman (Benton Central) – 20:24, 5. Loralei Rayman (Benton Central) – 20:52, 6. Jimena Alvarado (North White) – 22:01, 7. Chloe Stamper (Knox) – 22:10, 8. MaKayla Simons (North Judson) – 22:56, 9. Gaby Aragon (Twin Lakes) – 23:43, 10. Ryleigh Whitaker (Frontier) – 24:01, 11. Addison Musall (Twin Lakes) – 24:07, 12. Abby Bacon (North Judson) – 24:28, 13. Anna Woolery (North Judson) – 24:39, 14. JILLIAN BURNS (WINAMAC) – 25:07, 15. Pamela Espinosa (Twin Lakes) – 26:16

Individual champion: Krysta Sytsma (Kankakee Valley) – 17:49

RENSSELAER BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY SECTIONAL RESULTS (POINTS IN PARENTHESES): DeMotte Christian 24, Kankakee Valley 92, Tri-County 95, Rensselaer 103, Benton Central 111, Twin Lakes 127, West Central 180, WINAMAC 212, Frontier 229, North Newton 255

Winamac results (212 points, eighth place)

21. Brody Bonnell – 18:14 (19), 51. Ethan Showley – 20:37 (46), 52. Braylen Becker – 20:40.1 (47), 53. Elisha Burns – 20:40.4 (48), 57. Evan Burgess – 21:08 (52), 62. Austin Pratt – 21:21, 76. Joel Showley – 23:26

Top 15 individuals on non-advancing teams: 1. Damian Avendano (North White) – 17:23, 2. Jacob Geier (Twin Lakes) – 17:23, 3. Ryan Richardson (West Central) – 17:33, 4. Braden Kidder (Knox) – 17:42, 5. John Hileman (West Central) – 18:14.4, 6. BRADY BONNELL (WINAMAC) – 18:14.8, 7. Matthew Scott (Twin Lakes) – 18:20, 8. Kevin Altman (Frontier) – 18:28, 9. Brody Andrews (Twin Lakes) – 18:33, 10. Brady Greer (Frontier) – 19:17, 11. Koston Meyers (Twin Lakes), 12. Waylon Jeka (North Newton) – 19:51, 13. Beau Lindahl (West Central) – 19:51.6, 14. Jadyn Miller (Twin Lakes) – 19:51.9, 15. Melvin Facundo (South Newton) – 20:18

Individual champion: Easton Drain (DeMotte Christian) – 16:43