In her third season on the Seymour girls’ cross-country team, Ashton Chase kept her expectations high and times low.
The Owls’ junior dominated the regular season, winning four races, before picking up the tempo to make it to her third-straight state appearance.
With all her accomplishments this season, The Tribune has named Chase the 2017 Jackson County Runner of the Year.
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Going into the season, Seymour coach Spencer Sunbury held high expectations for Chase.
“Each year you expect all your runners to bring back a little more experience and understanding of the sport,” Sunbury said. “Ashton did, and she worked hard this year. I expected that from her. She comes in and takes care of business and supports her team.”
Sunbury wasn’t the only person holding Chase to a high standard.
“My expectation was to be a leader on and off the course,” Chase said. “I wanted to be more positive this year mentally and physically. I thought my mentality was better this year.”
Chase won races at Bedford, Franklin, Silver Creek and Batesville before placing third at the Hoosier Hills Conference at Ceraland in Columbus.
At Brown County’s Eagle Park, Chase attacked the postseason.
Following runner-up finishes in both the sectional and regional competetions, Chase qualified for the state meet as an individual by finishing 23rd.
At Terre Haute, Chase was 94th of 208 runners in the state finals.
“It was just amazing going back for a third time,” Chase said. “The environment there is amazing. I just enjoyed it.”
Across the board, Sunbury said he saw stronger times from opposing teams this year.
“This year, we’ve seen the girls’ side get a lot faster in Indiana,” Sunbury said. “We started noticing it at the beginning of the season, and saw it even more as the season went on. Things are changing, and I think a lot of it has to do with the club programs — like the one we have as well. Kids are starting to come into the high school with experience. It showed a lot that Ashton could stay consistent and strong.”
Sunbury said he never had to question Chase’s effort.
“She came in and took care of business,” he said. “One thing I mentioned at the banquet was that we needed to make sure she wasn’t working too hard all the time. We needed to have days for recovery, and she’s the type who wants to get the most out of herself all the time.”
While she didn’t break her personal best time this year, Chase felt she improved this past season.
“I think the coaching really helped me,” Chase said. “Every day, Spencer asked me how I was feeling. He’s an amazing coach. He pushed us a lot this year and I think we improved.”
Chase said she has received interest from some NCAA Division I schools.
Sunbury hopes that those college letters and offers motivate her for her senior season.
“I know she will come out with some extra enthusiasm to make sure her senior season is the season she wants,” Sunbury said. “I’m looking for her to develop her leadership skills a little more. We will have a young squad that will look up to her. Some of these kids coming in started looking up to her when she was a freshman. They were little and just deciding to become runners, and for some she was part of the reason why. It will be fun to see.
“I think it helps validate what she’s done. It shows her that she has done something to get noticed. I think it will help motivate her. She has talked about (college running) since her freshman year, she would like to continue running.”
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2017 Jackson County Runner of the Year
Ashton Chase, Seymour, junior
Best time: 19:01
Accomplishments: 94th at state finals (3rd appearance), 3rd place at Hoosier Hills Conference, 2nd place at Brown County Sectional and Regional, 23rd at semistate, won meets at Bedford, Franklin, Silver Creek and Batesville, SHS Most Valuable Runner.
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Joining Ashton Chase on the 2017 All-Jackson County Girls’ Cross-Country Team:
Makenna Sunbury, Seymour, sophomore
Best time: 19:11.
Accomplishments: 6th at HHC (All-HHC), 5th at sectional and regional, 28th at semistate, 139th at state finals (2nd appearance).
Abby Voss, Seymour, senior
Best time: 19:56.
Accomplishments: 11th at HHC (HHC honorable mention), 9th at sectional and regional, 55th at semistate.
Claire Loebker, Seymour, senior
Best time: 20:37.
Accomplishments: 19th at HHC (HHC honorable mention), 22nd at sectional, 19th at regional, 18st at semistate.
Grace Rennekamp, Seymour, ?
Best time: 20:41
Accomplishments: 22nd at HHC, 17th at sectional, 14th at regional, 87th at semistate.
Kaelyn Johnson, Brownstown Central, junior
Best time: 20:41
Accomplishments: 6th at Mid-Southern Conference (All-MSC), 12th at sectional, 24th at regional, 105th at semistate, BC MVP, 5 top-10 finishes.
Destiny Satterthwaite, Brownstown Central, junior
Best time: 22:09.
Accomplishments: 10th at MSC (All-MSC), 46th at sectional, regional qualifier, 4 top-10 finishes.
Claire Poulton, Brownstown Central, junior
Best time: 22:10.
Accomplishments: 11th at MSC (All-MSC), 30th at sectional, 32nd at regional.
Jodi Goecker, Trinity Lutheran, senior
Best time: 22:29.
Accomplishments: 28th at sectional, 59th at regional, TL Cougar Award, 3 top-10 finishes.
Grace Wilson, Crothersville, freshman
Best time: 21:09.
Accomplishments: Southern Athletic Conference Champion, 13th at sectional, 18th at regional, 118th at semistate, CHS MVR, 7 top-10 finishes.
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