Valpo cross country teams sweep New Prairie Regional

NEW CARLISLE | It's an ill wind that blows no good.

So it was at Saturday's New Prairie Regional.

The brisk northerly breeze didn't faze LaPorte's Mitch Hubner. He rolled to a 16-second victory.

It aided Valparaiso's boys, who bunched up to capture the team title.

In the girls race, Valpo's Katelyn DeVries and Elena Lancioni of LaPorte played cat and mouse, jockeying for position against the wind before DeVries sprinted away in the final straightaway.

"I don't think either of us wanted to lead the whole race going into the wind," DeVries said. "At one point, it was like a standstill, trying to get each other to lead. I knew if I just stuck with her the whole way, I'd probably be able to get her at the end. I always have a good kick and it helps a lot in a situation like that."

DeVries crossed in 18:55, the six-second margin belying the competitiveness of the race.

"It was hard with the wind," Lancioni said. "Both of us were trying hard to put in a good surge. She's a real fast sprinter. She has a great kick."

The Vikings put four in the top eight to secure honors for the sixth straight year.  Valpo posted 33 points to runner-up Portage's 60.

"It was a good race, not a great race," coach Karen DeVries said. "We had a few really up there, picking up their teammates. It's one of those (races) where you just have to get out, keeping the meets down the road in mind, so winning is a bonus."

Morgan Township's Ellen Turman (12th) and Kelly O'Shea of Wheeler (14th) were among individual qualifiers. Kankakee Valley (161) edged LaPorte (162) and Hebron (165) for the last team berth.

"With four new faces," Kougars coach Lane Lewallen said. "Our top four have been awesome all year, but you have to give a lot of love to Katelin Lott. She had a (personal best) and that was the difference in us getting out."

In the boys race, defending champ Valpo (42) distanced itself from LaPorte (81) by putting all seven in the top 18, headed by runner-up Ari Coulopoulos.

"I think the wind actually helped keep our pack together," Vikings coach Mike Prow said. "With 70 kids (in the race), especially with the wind, we wanted to take it a little easier. We had some kids who weren't happy where they were individually, but it's about the team, sacrificing an individual spot to keep the pack together."

Ahmad Aljobeh, in his first race since Labor Day, finished 18th.

"It's a huge mental boost," Prow said. "It takes the pressure off the back guys. It's like having your No. 1 fighter back in a street fight."

Unfazed by the wind, the muscular Hubner took to the front early and was never challenged in his repeat.

"Nobody wanted the lead. Nobody was making a move," Hubner said. "We started off slow. It felt like we were going out for a jog. I wanted to run a decent time, so I thought about it and just took off, and I didn't look back one time."

Morgan's Alec Kostelnik headed individual qualifiers, taking third in 16:14.

"I knew I had to sit back and let Mitch have it," Kostelnik said. "I did what I wanted to do -- sit with the Valpo guys and give it all I've got at the end. I'm pretty excited. I've been looking forward to this part of the season all year. It's what I've been training for."

Kyle Nurse (Wheeler, 11th) and Hebron's Jasen Egolf (14th) also earned another race.