TERRE HAUTE | Northwest Indiana doesn't just produce good distance runners, it produces smart ones.

In addition to their respective second- and fourth-place finishes in Saturday's state cross country finals, Lake Central's Dana Payonk and Chesterton's David Osborn were the recipients of the Mental Attitude Awards.

"It's a big thing, a great honor," Osborn said. "Looking at the past winners in the program, to win it, it's one of those things where all the hard work pays off."

Osborn ranks 48th in his class with a grade point average of 3.6.

"It couldn't happen to a nicer kid and a nicer family," Trojans coach Tim Ray said. "It's funny. We started listening to all (the accomplishments) they do, we were hoping they would give it to him. To hear his name, it's quite an honor for me to be a part of it."

A check for $1,000 will go to both schools in the names of the student-athletes.

"I knew I was nominated, so I wondered," said Payonk, who is fourth in her class. "It's nice."

A reservation for Kouts: For the fourth year in a row, Kouts cross country coaches Perry Heinold and Pam Thurner booked hotel rooms in the Terre Haute area in case either Jake Carden or Courtney Bennett qualified for state. This time, the reservation stuck, as both participated in the finals.

"We had fun (Friday) night," Carden said after earning all-state honors (21st). "It was a little inspiration to make it. I told coach, 'I have half a notion to go out and lead the whole thing. I'm going to race to win'."

Easy does it: Crown Point's Laicee Pierce credited her third-place finish to keeping herself from going too hard early.

"I wanted to take it easier," she said. "The adrenaline's pumping. I don't want to sprint the whole thing and die at the end."

Some like it hot: Jordan Chester of Boone Grove passed several runners in the last 400 meters to finish 14th, six spots back of her sophomore showing.

"Last year, the course conditions were great for me," she said. "I like hot weather. With how slippery (the course) is and how many people there are, you can get mentally discombobulated."

Senior class: In addition to Osborn, Chesterton's senior class included Shane Kenney (41st) and Jon Rogers (57th).

"David was the only left from that class of the top guys," Ray said. "Jon and Shane worked their way up. Yeah, they were seniors, but they were different seniors. They were guys in the back who had to do things to be successful and they did. That's a neat thing to see."

Valpo's heartbeat: Valpo's girls finished eighth and coach Karen DeVries praised the leadership of Jill Ranegar, the only senior in the Vikings' lineup.

"She's the heart and soul of the team," DeVries said. "We had a nice pack going and she led them. She just did an amazing job. We pulled together much better (than semistate). We definitely wanted to be in the top five, but the biggest goal was to get the girls back where they belonged, and they did."

Youth served: Portage's girls, who battled illness much of the season, were eyeing the top 10, but wound up a disappointing 17th. They can take solace in being the only school in the field of 24 without a senior in the lineup.

CROSS COUNTRY | STATE FINALS NOTES