From nwi.com:
Boone's Fauser gets even with Kouts' Carden Boone senior reverses outcome with Kouts rival
Story Discussion Jim Peters -
jim.peters@nwi.com, (219) 548-4363 | Posted: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:00 am | No Comments Posted
Font Size: Default font size Larger font size LIBERTY TWP. | By the end of the season, Boone Grove's Mike Fauser and Kouts' Jake Carden will meet no fewer than eight times, both hoping the capper comes at the state finals in Terre Haute.
Fauser evened this season's series at one in Tuesday's Valparaiso Jamboree at Sunset Hill Farm County Park, topping his Porter County Conference rival, 17:00-17:04.
"He got me good, by 10 seconds, Saturday (at North White)," Fauser said. "I just couldn't get going. I took a couple ice baths and I felt a lot better. Everything was back under me."
The duo separated themselves from the field by about 30 seconds.
"Hills have always been my downfall," Fauser said. "I came out here a couple times a week during the summer. I just tried to keep a steady pace through the hills."
On the girls side, Valpo's Katelyn DeVries didn't look like a runner who missed the whole track season with a stress fracture. The sophomore pulled away from state medalist Jordan Chester of Boone Grove, winning by 28 seconds in 20:07.
"I'm feeling a little behind, but I'm getting back up there," DeVries said. "I was feeling good after the first mile, so I decided to try to go. I was a little surprised I broke away. I'm used to having Megan (Ranegar) ahead of me. I just tried to do like her -- keep my head up and go."
The win over Chester, who left to play in a soccer match, should serve as a confidence boost for DeVries, who was 31st at state to Chester's eighth last season.
"Jordan's an awesome runner and it was good for Katelyn to have Jordan to gear off of," Katelyn's mom and Valpo coach Karen DeVries said. "We've built slowly up to this point. She hasn't had the time period you'd like an athlete to have, but she's been training well. I wasn't sure how she'd hold up, but I thought she had a great start and was strong through the whole race."
The Vikings posted a score of 25, well ahead of runner-up Hebron at 73. Valpo placed seven in the top 11 with Jill Ranegar third.
"We had a nice pack," coach DeVries said. "They're starting to realize what they're capable of and as they do, they'll get more up to the front."
Led by James Elia (third), Valpo won the boys meet with ease as well, tallying 33 to second-place West Side's 94. Jay Doane was fifth for the Vikings, who placed five in the top 10, including freshman Taylor Bisacchi in seventh.
"We're trying to use that pack mentality and we had three up there for a while," coach Mike Prow said. "Fauser and Carden are people I think are going to go to state, so it was good for James to have the chance to run with them. We had some good young guys up there."
Valparaiso Jamboree
Both Valparaiso teams won, as did Valpo's Katelyn DeVries