Dominating performance: Chesterton’s boys and girls cross country teams pose together after impressive showings at the New Prairie Regional on Saturday. In each race Chesterton runners swept the top two spots, with the boys taking home the team title and the girls finishing runners-up. Front row: (Left to right) Ali Bishel, Tanja Semler, Katie Talbert, Tess Mullin and Alissa Bishel. Second row: Cassie Peller (Regional Champ), Sarah Kehe, Mary Ballinger (Regional Runner-Up), Kellie Cahillane, Katie Cahillane and Kelly Peller. Third row: Eddie Lawson, LJ Pol, Adam Martin (Regional Runner-Up), Max Goldak (Regional Champ), Russell Wilk, Matt Campbell and Bryan Nallenweg. Fourth row: Nick Stevens, Ken Frank, Geoff Lambert, Aaron Martin, Alex Cornwell and Matt Osborn. (Tribune photos by Jimmy Kissee)

1-2 finish: Chesterton’s Adam Martin (left) and Max Goldak (right) lead the pack through the woods Saturday at the New Prairie Regional. Goldak finished in first crossing the finish line in 16:11, while Martin was second with 16:12.

By JIMMY KISSEE

Last season, the New Prairie Regional was a meet Matt Goldak would rather forget. This season, however, it was one the Chesterton senior will always remember.

“It was nice to finally do well here, because I have had no luck here in the past,” said Goldak, who crossed the finish line with top individual honors Saturday at New Prairie.

“I had an off race in the sectional last Tuesday and I wanted to come out here and do much better.”

At last years’ regional, Goldak forgot his jersey right before the start of the race and had to make a mad dash to the teams tent, which was located a decent ways away. Goldak never rebounded and was winded right from the start of the race and ended up placing 44th overall with a season-worst time of 18:16.

It was a much different story Saturday.

The swift running junior ran smoothly throughout the entire race and actually coasted in with teammate Adam Martin for a 1-2 Chesterton finish. Goldak’s time was 16:11, while Martin followed a second behind at 16:12.

“It doesn’t matter who wins between us, it was just fun to have us finish 1-2,” said Goldak, who placed sixth at the sectional with a time of 17:06. “I wanted to run a smart race and I hope to do the same the next two Saturday’s.”

Chesterton’s 1-2 finish, along with Matt Osborn placing in the top-15 helped the Trojans seal the Regional team title with a total of 51 points.

Portage was second with 62 points, followed by LaPorte in third with 65 points and Valparaiso in fourth with 74 points.

“This is huge for our confidence because we know we didn’t absolutely go as hard as we could,” Martin said.

“We eased off at the end, so we know next week or at state we can stay with the rest of the field that has even faster times.”

Martin was pleased with the second place individual finish and the team top finish, but the emerging sophomore has his sights even bigger.

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t be semistate champs too,” he said. “With the strong performances we had today from top to bottom, I don’t see why we can’t do the same next week.”

Chesterton coach Tim Ray was pleased with the efforts of the Trojans, but he is still looking for more consistency heading into the final two meets of the season.

“We’ve been up and down, and up and down all year,” he said. “Hopefully with the training we have been doing, by the time we get to this stage, we can be right there and stay there. Winning any championship is exciting, but we have to get at it next weekend and the weekend after that. Hopefully at the end we’ll be at the top.”

No matter what the future holds for the Trojans the next two weeks, at least they can say they put in the work.

“We are focused on getting ready for state,” Ray said.

“All season that’s has been our focus of training. Whatever happens next week is going to happen and at least we know we’ve done everything we possibly could’ve to prepare for the next two weeks. If it happens, it happens, but at least we know we’ve done everything.”

Rounding out the rest of the Trojans results were Russell Wilk in 16th (17:06), Ed Lawson 18th (17:11), Matt Campbell 21st (17:14), and Jon Pol 22nd (17:21).

“Overall, I think it was a solid team race,” Ray said.

“Besides our dual meet with Crown Point and Portage, this was probably our best team race of the year. The boys are training real hard and it’s nice to see where they were today. I hope we can be the same the next two weeks.”

Boys Cross Country Results

At New Prairie HS

Team Score

1. CHESTERTON 51, 2. Portage 62, 3. LaPorte 65, 4. Valparaiso 74, 5. Morgan Township 150, 6. New Prairie 164, 7. Michigan City 199, 8. Kouts 223, 9. Knox 255, 10. Marquette 266.

(Note: Top 5 team advance to New Prairie Semistate).

Top 15 Individuals

1. Max Goldak (Chesterton)16:11, 2. Adam Martin (Chesterton) 16:12, 3. Derek Bede (LaPorte) 16:21, 4. Dan Watts (Valpo) 16:22, 5. Ben Sundy (Valpo) 16:30, 6. Jason Willis (Portage) 16:37, 7. Keith Ludwig (LaPorte) 16:45, 8. Rob Bailey (Portage) 16:47, 9. Jim Flannery (Portage) 16:48, 10. Bradley Ada (Michigan City) 16:55, 11. Nick Gross (LaPorte) 16:56, 12. Matt Hamilton (Morgan Township) 16:57, 13. Matt Wells (LaPorte) 16:58, 14. Matt Osborn (Chesterton) 16:59, 15. Mark Fischer (Morgan Township) 17:05.

(Note: Top 15 individuals advance to New Prairie Semistate).

Other Chesterton Results

16. Russell Wilk 17:06, 18. Ed Lawson 17:11, 21. Matt Campbell 17:14, 22. Jon Pol 17:21.

Posted 10/20/2003