Phone: 317-846-6601 Fax: 317-575-4244 Website: www.ihsaa.org
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MEDIA
ADVISORY
NORTHRIDGE WINS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP;
ROEDER TAKES TOP SPOT
Hamilton
Southeastern junior Justin Roeder and the Northridge boys
team proved to be the class of this year’s field at the IHSAA Boys Cross
Country State Finals on Saturday in
Roeder took
control of the race just before reaching the 4,000 mark of the 5,000 meter race
and ran away from a pair of challengers in the late going finishing in 16:06.9.
Senior Ryan Byrne of
For
Northridge, it marked the second state championship in school history and the
first in boys cross country. The school captured the 1987 crown in girls softball.
Coached by
Josh Fletcher, the Raiders made a quantum leap from last year’s ninth place
finish at the state meet accumulating 104 points and outmanning
runner-up
Rounding
out the top teams, Franklin Central placed third with 144 points,
Fort Wayne Snider ended fourth with 147 and two-time defending state champion
Columbus North captured fifth with 152.
This year’s
meet, the 59th annual gathering for boys, was contested for the
first time at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross
Country Course with Terre Haute North acting as the host school for the event.
The event was run under a bright, sunny sky with temperatures in the mid-70s
although strong wind gusts wreaked havoc on the runners. The NCAA Men’s and
Women’s Cross Country Championships will be held on this same course November
22.
Ryan
Byrne Named Winner Of
Ryan Byrne
of
The award
goes to the senior in the state finals meet that best demonstrates mental
attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during the four years of
high school. It is named in honor the late Charles F. Maas who served as IHSAA
Assistant Commissioner from 1973 to 1984.
Byrne ranks
in the top five of his senior class academically and plans to study computer
programming at the collegiate level. During his high school career, he has been
a four-year member of the student council, served twice as secretary in his
three years with the National Honor Society and also was elected president of
the French Club.
Byrne raced
to a second place overall finish in this year’s meet which helped solidify his
selection for this year’s award. In addition to cross country, he has also
participated in swimming and ran in last spring’s 1600 meter run at the state
track meet.
He is the
son of Gary and Angie Byrne of
Farm Bureau
Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a
$1,000 scholarship to
Team Posters And
Individual Action Photographs Available
Visit 20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA’s photographer and the
For
t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any
of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.
State Finals Programs Available
Couldn’t be
in