The Tippecanoe boys cross country team had their best collective team effort of the season at the Sidney Invitational on Saturday, September 20th. Tipp placed their top 5 runners in the top 12 in a field consisting of 172 runners. They scored 31 team points, beating 2nd place Kettering Fairmont by 27 points and 3rd place Wapokoneta by 77 points. The excellent weather and flat course resulted in many solid performances and fast times.
The re-emergence of Andrew Wharton as the team’s fifth man added even more depth to an already deep and talented roster. Tippecanoe had their fastest top 5 average time of the year with a 16:38 and had their shortest gap between their first and fifth runners for the season. Wharton’s ankle injury looks to be fully healed and his race certainly showed that. Andrew finished 12th overall with a time of 17:12, a minute and 22 seconds better than his race last weekend.
Tyler Fietshans broke the 17 minute mark for the first time this season after not even knowing whether he would race. He punctured his foot in practice on Wednesday when a stick somehow penetrated through his shoe and into his foot. Despite the pain, Tyler finished 7th overall with a time of 16:47.
Luke Zerkle finished sixth for the team with a time of 17:42. Matt Zuzolo finished seventh for the team with a time of 18:04, and Zach Wertz finished eighth for the team with a time of 19:19. All three runners provide Tipp with solid insurance should any of their top five have a sub-par race.
The always reliable Jason Bruns and Kevin Fink also had tremendous races. They finished 5th and 6th overall with Jason edging out Kevin in the last twenty meters to finish with a time of 16:37 to Kevin’s 16:38. Jason Salyer ended up winning the race with a time of 15:53, beating Sidney’s Aaron Dinzeo by five seconds. Both Jason’s and Kevin ran a fast 4:54 first mile, but still trailed Dinzeo by about twenty meters. Salyer gradually caught up to Sidney’s top runner and ran right behind him until the second mile marker. Jason took over the lead from there and slowly built up a lead he never relinquished.
The win for Tipp was definitely a huge confidence booster. Wharton’s return takes pressure off of their top four runners and Tyler’s sub 17 performance was the race he needed to assure himself of his great talent. The team’s hard work and dedication is definitely paying off and their future continues to look bright. Their bid for the state title is going to come down to them staying healthy along with the performance of their fifth runner at the state meet.
The cross country teams will be in action next weekend at the Miami County Championships in West Milton.
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