LADY INDIANS SLOSH TO VARSITY, JV WINS AT CAPE CENTRAL INV.

The way the Jackson girls cross country team performed in the water Saturday during the Cape Girardeau Central Invitational, the high school may want to develop a swim team for the Lady Indians.

On a rain-soaked 2.6 mile course, both the varsity and junior varsity Lady Indians won their respective meets. Jackson had five medal winners lead them to the varsity girls victory with 42 points. Cape Central, which took second with 66 points, had four medal winners.

"The girls didn't let the elements bother them," said Jackson coach Jim Stoverink. "They kind of liked it out there. Of course we had some success, so we'll like it a lot more."

Despite a steady rain throughout the meet, the Lady Indians sloshed through the course with several strong performances. Julie Wunderlich led the Lady Indians with a second-place finish in 17:00. Jennifer Brown (17:38) and Sarah Schlick (17:40) also finished in the top 10. Sarah Stiegmeyer (18:19) and Lisa Sappington (18:52) also won medal for the Lady Indians.

Cape Central's girls handled the elements well, led by a third-place run by Tobie Bittle (17:12). Kristen Tallent (17:54) placed ninth, Leanne Lee (18:21) took 13th and Myka Bohnsack (18:29) finished 14th for the second-place Lady Tigers.

Central coach Mark Hahn was impressed with the leaders in the girl's race and all the runners who competed in the wet weather.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the top three (girls) all end up all-state," Hahn said. "I'm also proud of the kids who participated and didn't let the elements bother them; it was inspiring."

Kelly's Amy Arteme and Laura Ruff both won medals to help the Lady Hawks earn fifth place. Arteme (17:56) took 10th and Ruff (18:51) 16th. Notre Dame's Susan Judd took home a medal, placing 15th (18:47).

For the varsity boys, Central's Rory Kipper placed second just 10 seconds behind the leader in 14:39. Kipper and Mark Stone (17th, 15:36) were the only medal winners on the Tigers' fifth-place team.

"Rory ran a very tough race," said Hahn. "He loves these adverse conditions, so it was his type of day."

Jackson's Mark Sander (ninth, 15:10) and Steve Adams (19th, 15:40) earned medals as the Indians placed sixth. Kelly finished seventh, led by a 13th-place medal finish by Nathan King (15:24).

Three Jackson medal winners helped the Lady Indians win the JV meet by 11 points over Fox. Sarah Strack (19:44) placed fourth to lead the Lady Indians. Jessica Craft (ninth, 20:11) and Amanda Lowes (13th, 20:29) were the other Jackson medal winners.

Kelly's Denver Stuckey won the boy's junior varsity race in 15:35, but it wasn't enough to keep Jackson from claiming second over the Hawks. Stuckey led two other teammates -- Daniel Mothershead (ninth, 16:22) and Jamie Essner (10th, 16:26) -- as medal winners.

Jackson's Zach Fredrich (16:10) was the only Indian medalist, placing seventh. Central's Chris Chisman finished eighth in 16:11.

Central's Gabe Austin won the freshmen race in a time of 15:54.

Results in Scoreboard on Page 2B.