Harrison seniors Kaitlyn Manfra and Carla Rodriguez share connection as boys and girls teams sweep sectional titles for third year.
WEST LAFAYETTE ― Harrison senior Carla Rodriguez wasn't sure how a friendship would be created with her now best friend Kaitlyn Manfra.
Manfra was known for being the fastest runner in the eighth grade from Klondike Middle School, while Rodriguez felt she had some catching up to do.
"When I was a freshman, I remembered her being a lot faster than me and I was actually a little scared of her because she was always known for being the fast girl," Rodriguez said. "And then I realized she was just like any other athlete."
A relationship that would come to define the IHSAA sectional cross country boys and girls track and field championship.
Rodriguez and Manfra paced each other while leaving the other 74 runners behind.
It was another race day dominated by Harrison at Tippecanoe County Amphitheater, with the boys team capturing its third consecutive sectional title as well.
Rodriguez finished first at 18:18 and Manfra second in 18:24.
The Raiders' duo would have to wait for 65 seconds before third place finisher, Isabella Burgess, crossed the finish line to help Harrison capture the IHSAA girls sectional championship for the third straight year.
"Training on and off helps us, and having each other's presence during a race is helpful," Manfra said. "We are great teammates and we know how to work together. We were comfortable in our home course and knowing where pacing should be."
West Lafayette placed second with 72 points, Faith Christian placed third with 112 points, McCutcheon placed fourth with 127 points and Lafayette Jeff finished fifth with 129 points to each qualify for the IHSAA regional championship at Brownsburg next Saturday, Oct. 25.
Senior Evan Lottes took first place in 16:11 as the Harrison boys swept the top three positions. Sophomore Logan Breon placed second in 16:16 and junior Jonathan King finished third in 16:26.
West Lafayette placed second with 56 points, McCutcheon took third with 147 points, Faith Christian finished fourth with 152 points and Southmont took fifth with 163 points to qualify for regionals.
Non-team qualifying regional girls: Maria Frasch (Seeger), Claire Nern (Seeger), Emily Greene (Seeger), Hayleigh Boots (Southmont), Sarah Hopper (North Montgomery), Katelyn Woolwine (North Montgomery), Katie Rotar (Central Catholic), Darby Cottrell (Southmont), Jaysa Crull (Southmont), Lauren Potts (Central Catholic), Miranda Mendoza (Delphi), Lily Newlin (Fountain Central), Amarah Shannon (Southmont), Elia Hernandez (Delphi), Yaritza Torres-Mauro (Central Catholic).
Non-team qualifying boys: Josh Inskeep (Crawfordsville), Carlos Hernandez (Lafayette Jeff), Leo Hernandez (Delphi), Landon Dispennett (Seeger), Harrison Bernfield (Delphi), Cooper Stephens (North Montgomery), Drew Dark (North Montgomery), Owen Seeley (Central Catholic), Cooper Renback (Central Catholic), Gage Dailey (Lafayette Jeff), Nicholas Wallpe (Seeger), Owen Broadstreet (Delphi), Jordan Dowden (Central Catholic) John Puterbaugh (Seeger), Alex Sanchez (Crawfordsville)
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: IHSAA boys and girls cross country sectional results from Lafayette
Category: General Sports
