09/19/2026
“Rain, Mud and Records: Westville Makes History at New Prairie”
NEW CARLISLE, Ind. — A thunderstorm delayed the racing. Rain turned the course wet and muddy. Westville responded by making history.
Freshman Tobi Bradney delivered the headline Saturday at the New Prairie Invitational, breaking his own school record with a 17:53.04 to finish eighth overall. Bradney became the first Westville cross-country runner to break 18 minutes and, according to program records, the first Westville cross-country runner and freshman to earn a top-10 finish at New Prairie.
The historic day stretched throughout the boys lineup. Jayden Couture ran 21:35.25, Everett Ewart recorded a personal-best 24:31.94, Connor Keen finished in 25:03.00, and Anthony Ahnefeld added a personal-best 25:15.35.
Together, the Blackhawks finished 21st overall with 572 points, the highest New Prairie Invitational finish in Westville boys cross-country history.
On the girls side, Abby Barbahen led Westville with a 23:43.14, finishing 46th overall and just six places shy of the top 40. Senior Allyson Martin battled through the muddy conditions to finish in 28:10.17, while Mica Gaskey continued her breakthrough season with a personal-best 32:00.65
After an hour-plus weather delay and a battle through rain and mud, Westville left New Prairie with a school record, its first sub-18 5K, multiple personal bests, a historic top-10 finish and its best boys team finish ever at New Prairie.
On a day when the course slowed everyone down, the Blackhawks moved their program forward.
