NOVEMBER 1, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Indiana coaches (IATCCC) announce cross country all-star teams

State champs Banfich, Fout to lead stars to Mid East Championship meet in Ohio on Nov. 17.

 Three-time state cross country champion Alexandra Banfich of Culver Academies and boys' state champ Michael Fout of LaPorte headline this fall's all-star teams announced Thursday by the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (IATCCC).

 Banfich and Fout will lead their respective 10-member girls' and boys' teams to the Mid East Cross Country Championships on November 19 in Kettering, Ohio. There, the Indiana all-stars will race against the top seniors from Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

 The Indiana teams are typically selected at the state meet with the top 10 senior finishers earning the honor. This year, Indiana will send not just it's state champ in Banfich, but one of the most highly-decorated prep distance runners in state history. Banfich capped her career with her third straight cross country championship and then won the IHSAA Mental Attitude award.

 Banfich, ranked in the top 10 nationally, will be joined on the girls' team by Lorna Whaley of Avon (third at the state meet), Maggie Bingham of Westfield (fourth), Lacey Oeding of Jasper (seventh), Chelsea Blanchard of Carroll - Allen (ninth), Molly Hirt of Bloomington North (17th), Elissa Mason of Roncalli (24th), Renee Masterson of Beech Grove (27th), Hannah Miller of Northridge (30th) and Kara Doerffler of Fort Wayne Concordia (35th).

 Fout, ranked in the top 15 nationally, will be joined by the following boys, with their finish at the state meet in parenthesis: Anthony Witt of Shakamak (third), Zach Gates of Hamilton Southeastern (fourth), Andy Bayer of Leo (sixth), Zach Mayhew of Terre Haute North (seventh), Michael Hoffman of Bloomington North (eighth), Craig Padgett of Mishawaka (10th), Sean Wilson of Franklin Community (11th, mental attitude winner), Ben Bizuneh of Pike (12th) and David Eichenberger of Plainfield (14th).

Portage's Jay White will be the head coach of the teams. Assistant coaches are Doug Snyder (New Prairie), Jerry Hoffman (South Bend St. Joseph's), Chuck Koeppen (Carmel), Joni Sanders, Rob Abraham (Brown County) and Al Eckert (Silver Creek).