Batesville's Jayla Bedel qualifies for XC state finals

The cross country course at CERAland Park in Columbus hosted the IHSAA cross country regional.The top five teams for girls and boys advance to the state finals at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute. The girls’ race starts at noon with the boys following at 1 p.m. Saturday.Batesville junior Jayla Bedel will be at the starting line for the girls’ state finals race following her 25th place finish at the regional in a personal best time of 18:57.Overall, the Lady Bulldogs were 11th of the 25 teams (239 runners) in the regional field.Batesville’s Francesca Myers ran a personal best 19:39 for 43rd place. Caitlin Raver crossed the line 83rd in 20:36. Sydney Gilland was 91st in 20:44. Paige Allgeier finished 97th in 20:49. Audrey Dieckmann ran a personal best 21:43 for 139th. Aubrey Weberding finished 149th in a personal time of 21:55.Batesville finished 24th in the boys’ competition.Leading the way for the Bulldogs with a personal best performance was Cael Luhman in 117th with a time of 17:27. Ryan Benz finished 120th in 17:28. Duncan Fish crossed the line 174th with a personal best time of 18:08. Brody Gibson finished 212th in 18:47 followed by Luke Raver 224th in 19:18, Timothy Quillin 227th in 19:21 and Levi Essick 228th in 19:22.Lady LionsThe Lady Lions of Rushville also competed in the regional at Columbus. The Lady Lions finished 22nd.Kendra Jacobs led the way for Rushville in 119th with a time of 21:18.2. Melaney Mahan crossed the line in 21:41 for 137th. Josie Corn was 155th in 22:05.8. Josie Newhouse ran a 25:30.9. Lexi Grayson finished 232nd in 26:28.5 and Elise Cain was next in 233rd in 26:30.4.