NOVEMBER 14, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Indiana's best take on the rest Saturday in Ohio

Cross country all-stars aim to win overall title for first time since 2003

 This Saturday in Kettering, Ohio, Indiana's high school all-star cross country team will be competing against all-stars from 5 other states in the Mid East Championships. Recent state champions Alexandra Banfich of Culver Academies and Michael Fout of LaPorte _ both ranked among the nation's top high school harriers _ will give the Indiana team an excellent chance at the title.

 The Indiana team was selected by taking the top 10 senior boys and girl's finishers at last month's IHSAA state meet in Terre Haute. The team is formally named and escorted to Ohio by the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (IATCCC). They will be competing against similar all-star teams from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio. Ohio won both the boy's and girl's meets last year, and of course, the overall title. Indiana was second in the boys and narrowly beat Michigan for second in the overall. Indiana's last overall title (combing boy's and girl's team scores) came in 2003.

 Joining Banfich on the Indiana girl's all-star team are 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).

 Joining Fout on the Indiana boy's all-star team are Anthony Witt of Shakamak (third at the state meet), 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 (Pike), Rob Abraham (Brown County) and Al Eckert (Silver Creek).