Both the girls and boys cross country teams advanced to the second round of the state tournament series Saturday with solid runs at the Manchester sectional. 

The girls came in second with 50 points to champion Columbia City's 35.

Junior Sammi Rastrelli led the charge for the Tigers, crossing the finish line in a personal best of 18:55.6 to take 4th overall. Her relentless drive set the tone for the team. Senior Ella Laput, in her final sectional race, left everything on the course with a PR of 19:12.6, securing 7th place. Her leadership and determination have been cornerstones for the team all season, and she stepped up when it mattered most.

Junior Eden Metz ran a huge PR of 19:27.1, finishing 9th overall. Her strong finish underscored the Tigers' commitment to pushing themselves to new heights. Junior Hannah Fisher continued the trend with another PR, clocking in at 20:39.4 to finish 13th overall, showing the team's depth and fighting spirit.

The final scorer, senior Bryce Eherenman, put in a solid performance, finishing 17th overall with a time of 20:53.8. Her consistency and hard work helped seal the Tigers' advancement to Regionals. Freshman Kyla Transparenti also ran a PR of 21:17.6, finishing 24th overall, and senior Annie Parker, another cornerstone of the team, finished in 34th place with a time of 22:32.0.

With five PRs on the day, the Lady Tigers proved that they are not just a talented team but a determined one, ready to rise to any challenge. Their focus and heart were on full display, and with Regionals on the horizon at Huntington University next week, they are determined to keep pushing toward their season goals.

The boys won the sectional championship with a score of 36, edging out Wabash, who finished with 47. 

The Tigers captured their 14th consecutive IHSAA Sectional Championship on Saturday at Manchester High School, led by standout Junior Jackson Gackenheimer. Gackenheimer secured his second straight Sectional title, dominating the race from start to finish. He crossed the 1600-meter mark in 4:48 and the 3200 in 9:51, ultimately winning with a time of 15:36.4, his second-fastest career performance. The rest of the Tigers' Varsity 7, all seniors, delivered strong finishes: Noah McPhail took 5th place (16:23.4), Rick Orr 8th (16:28.1), Tyler Mimnaugh 10th (16:38.0), Alex Schrock 12th (16:59.7), Clark Meridew 14th (17:12.9), and Mattias Niebbia 18th (17:34.6).

Coach Campbell praised Jackson for his outstanding performance, saying, "This was an exceptional race for Jackson, who shaved nearly 20 seconds off his time from last year's race. It's the strongest performance I've seen from him all season, and securing a win with just two weeks left in the season is a great momentum boost."  

However, it wasn't just the race itself that impressed Coach Campbell. "What stands out most is his consistent leadership. He approaches every race with his best effort and is always a positive, encouraging presence for his teammates," Campbell added.
 

See the full individual and team stats for both the girls and boys races by clicking HERE.