August 31, 2024 at 10:20 a.m.
By Ben Finke Varsity Cross Country and Track & Field, Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School
Hauser's cross country teams are off to a running start for 2024. The Jets kicked off the racing season last week with a weekday relay race at home and a weekend invitational meet.
Jets Host Hokum Karem
The high school team hosted Greensburg, Rushville, and South Decatur for the annual Hauser Hokum Karem last Tuesday. In a "hokum karem" race, pairs of runners alternate running a mile circuit over the course, with each runner completing three miles.
Hauser’s Adrean Tungate and Nolan Dailey were the boys champions, covering the six mile race in a combined time of 32:06. Other Jets duos placing in the top 10 were Mason Moore and Max Moore (5th) and Philippe Eugene and Koleson Gernentz (10th).
Varsity Boys Runners-Up at Small School Invitational
On Saturday the varsity team traveled to Blue River Park in Shelbyville for the Jeremy Wright Small School Invitational. The Hauser boys were runners-up to Cascade in a field of over thirty Class A and AA schools from around the state.
Nolan Dailey matched up with Gabe Riehle and Lucas Cooney of Milan and Horizon Christian’s Corban McGaughey for the entire race, placing fourth with a time of 17:27.83.
Adrean Tungate took 18th place with a time of 18:45.22 for his first varsity 5K, while Koleson Gernentz finished 32nd in 19:18.32.
Mason Moore (19:59.25) and Max Moore (20:06.48) finished in 56th and 60th, and Braydon McFarland (21:21.63) was 95th.
Kase Meister (23:15.79) and Philippe Eugene (23:17.21) took places 151 and 152, with Mason Johnson (23:34.89) and Grady Niccum (23:36:16) close behind in 157th and 160th. Lukas Christian (25:35.53) finished in 191st.
Junior High Team Kicks off Season
Hauser's junior high squads also competed in the Small School Invitational for their first meet of the season.
The boys were runners-up to Centerville. Jace Wright took third place with a time of 10:49.03. Other top finishers for the Jets were Wyatt Leonard (16th), Nevin Noble (18th), Jakobi Noble (26th), Raylin Noble (48th), Graham Dickerson (68th) and Owen Beal (69th).
The middle school girls placed sixth as a team, led by Kendalyn Gernentz in 20th (14:27.56). Jaylee Maughon (22nd), Molly Carman (39th), Kali Burgdorf (47th), Anna Crowder (53rd), Kenzie Straight (55th) and Aria Kemmel (60th) rounded out Hauser's top seven.