Crown Point High School launched fresh season of cross country competition on Saturday with the annual Crown Point Invite at Lemon Lake County Park.
The boys raced first, taking on a course that winds through the park’s fields and trees. The Bulldog boys won by team score, defending their home turf and beginning their season with a strong showing – but Munster senior Max Lindenmayer led the field individually, posting a time of 16:43.71.
“Looking at the teams that were here, I had a feeling there was a chance to get the win,” Lindenmayer said. “It was a good pack of boys to run with, and I knew that coming in so I was able to take advantage of it.”
It is a strong and fairly evenly matched field of runners for the boys this year, and Lindenmayer is looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m really excited for the season after this race, I feel like I can progress more and have a better season that I did last year,” he said. “Looking at all the teams we’re going to go up against, a lot of the top guys are grouped together so there’ll be more competition. I can thrive off of that.”
The girls took on the course next, with the Lake Central Indians finishing first by team score. Last year’s State Champion, Lowell senior Karina James, won the individual race. Her time of 18:38.30 put her nearly full two minutes ahead of the field – making it quiet race for young star.
“I got out and from start to finish felt that quietness, and I’m not used to that,” she said. “I usually have someone with me for the first mile, and even the crowd was a little bit quieter. But I think it’s good, it’ll be a new part of my routine on Saturdays so it was good to be exposed to it, and I can’t be unsatisfied with how I finished and how I ran. There’s a lot I can do to improve and hit the times I’m really hoping to hit.”
The season might just be getting started, but James already knows her ultimate goal – to defend her state title.
“I know there’s a lot of talent in the field, there’s a lot of girls that broke many state records at the past track meet,” she said. “But that’s not going to stop me. I’m going to put everything into it and do everything I can to at least attempt to defend my title. I’m not going to let it go easy, by any means.”
Team Results
Boys:
- Crown Point – 63 Points
- Lake Central – 70 Points
- Munster – 96 Points
- Harrison – 110 Points
- Illiana Christian – 119 Points
- Hanover – 127 Points
- Lowell – 142 Points
- Rensselaer – 173 Points
Inc. – Andrean, Calumet, East Chicago, Morton, SB Career Academy
Girls:
- Lake Central – 36 Points
- Crown Point – 48 Points
- Lowell – 93 Points
- Hanover – 127 Points
- Illiana Christian – 136 Points
- Rensselaer – 148 Points
- Munster – 168 Points
- Andrean – 180 Points
Inc. – Morton, River Forest, SB Career Academy