The margin for error for Chesterton's boys cross country team at Saturday's New Prairie Semistate was razor thin.

In a well-bunched field where over half of the 20 schools harbored hopes of a trip to Terre Haute, the Trojans saw their season come to an end with a 13th-place finish.

"We just don't have the depth this year," coach Tim Ray said. "We also knew, based on the times and the teams we've beaten in races throughout the season, that we had a legitimate chance to get out. It just didn't happen."

At the very least, Chesterton was spared the heartbreak that befell Munster and Crown Point, who missed out on qualifying for state by one and two points, respectively. The Trojans checked in with 302 points, 93 behind Lowell, which claimed the sixth and final slot.

"We mixed and matched all season and the same things didn't work every time," Ray said. "I'm proud to say it wasn't a lack of effort, them doing what they were supposed to do. As a coach, you can always live with that. You do what you can to put yourself in a position to be successful. That's really what the program's all about."

In a race where teams needed either some low individual numbers or a tight pack, Chesterton had neither. Kevin Kenney led the Trojans contingent, taking 20th in 16:31.6, but the dropoff was substantial to Mitch Wilborn (52nd, 17:07.8) and Andrew Kearney (63rd, 17:17.2). Alex Genetski (99th, 17:46.8) and Emmitt Sullivan (117th, 18:16.5) completed Chesterton's scoring. Joe Larimer finished 125th (18:28.6), while Evan Mazurkiewicz, a consistent top three runner much of the season for the Trojans, came across second to last in the field of 153 at 20:47.2.

"If the race was 2K, I'd be a very happy person," Ray said. "We knew we had to get out and we did. Our No. 1 (Kenney) had a good race, not a great race. Our No. 2 had a good race, Mitch got out strong. Andrew, Alex, even our six, seven guys, they all had good races."

The exception was Mazurkiewicz, who has been slowed in the postseason by something Ray nor anyone else has been able to pinpoint.

"He's been our No. 3 all year, except the last weeks," Ray said. "He's used an inhaler, taken blood tests. Something's not right and we just don't know what it is. Halfway through, he has an attack or whatever it is and ends up falling back. It's too bad. Evan feels awful about it. He was one of those 23-minute (5K) guys as a freshman who was 16:45 at the (New Prairie) Invitational. But it's a team effort. The team didn't advance."

Valparaiso defended its title, topping Warsaw, 45-50. McCutcheon (189), Hobart (189) and West Lafayette (207) also advanced. Morgan Township's Alec Kostelnik overtook Warsaw's Jacob Poyner in the final 800 meters to take individual honors in 15:45.9.

1. Valparaiso, 45; 2. Warsaw, 60; 3. McCutcheon, 189; 4. Hobart, 189; 5. West Lafayette, 207; 6. Lowell, 209; 7. Munster, 210; 8. Crown Point, 211; 9. LaPorte, 230; 10. Portage, 231; 11. Lake Central, 249; 12. Wheeler, 279; 13. Chesterton, 302; 14. Rochester, 306; 15. Culver Academies, 384; 16. Western, 402; 17. Lafayette Jefferson, 405; 18. Frankfort, 501; 19. Twin Lakes, 514; 20. Carroll (Flora), 551.

1. Alec Kostelnik (Morgan Township), 15:45.9; 2. Jacob Poyner (War), 15:49; 3. Kyle Eller (Lo), 15:57.8; 4. Robert Murphy (War), 15:59.4; 5. Ellis Coon (War), 16:03.4; 6. Ari Coulopoulos (V), 16:03.9; 7. Taylor Bisacchi (V), 16:07.4; 8. Nickolas Arndt (New Prairie), 16:12.2; 9. Anthony Didion (LP), 16:13.5; 10. Landon Davison (V), 16:14.1; 11. Brent Dunn (Hob), 16:15.5; 12. Peyton Reed (V), 16:18.3; 13. Cooper Williams (WL), 16:18.8; 14. Joel O'Shea (Wh), 16:20; 15. Alex Ray (CP), 16:20.6; 16. Tom Bolanowski (Mu), 16:22.3; 17. Jacob Wickes (Mc), 16:24.9; 18. Pat Dalton (V), 16:24.9; 19. Brian Blaylock (Lo), 16:30.7; 20. Kevin Kenney, (C) 16:31.6.

Other Chesterton finishers: 52. Mitch Wilborn, 17:07.8; 63. Andrew Kearney, 17:17.2; 99. Alex Genetski, 17:46.8; 117. Emmitt Sullivan, 18:16.5; 125. Joe Larimer, 18:28.6; 152. Evan Mazurkiewicz, 20:47.2.

Posted 10/22/2012