Valparaiso repeats as champs

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:54AM

NEW CARLISLE — Many times over, Valparaiso’s Ahmad Aljobeh has placed high. At Saturday’s New Prarie Cross Country Regional, Aljobeh offered something else compelling, though.

As the defending champ, Valparaiso may have entered as the favorite, but Aljobeh (the usual No. 1) hadn’t suited up for a race since before Labor Day. On that day he suffered a left ankle sprain, at a team practice, ending his regular season on a one-contest performance and keeping him out for sectionals.

“(I’m) still trying to work my way back up. Taking full weeks off of running isn’t going to get you to where you want to be,” Aljobeh said following an 18th-place finish.

However, Vikings coach Mike Prow sees the resurgence as a reward in itself. While Valparaiso runners such as Ari Coulopoulos (second), Peyton Reed (fourth) and Pat Dalton (ninth) topped the field, Aljobeh (in the seventh role) packed with other teammates to finish in the top 20. On these efforts, Valparaiso handily strolled over runner-up LaPorte for the team crown. The two teams will join Chesterton (third), New Prarie (fourth) and Portage (fifth) at the same location for the semistate next Saturday.

“It would be like a street fight and having your No. 1 fighter coming in there,” Prow said. “To have Ahmed back is just a mental boost no matter (what).”

There was a caveat to Valparaiso’s 42-81 win. No one could stay with the Slicers’ Mitch Hubner. Hubner (15:49) repeated as the medalist with a 16.5 second advantage over Coulopoulos. 

The senior vividly remembers a specific comment during his effort. 

“Someone told me once you get in those woods, they’ll lose you and no one will find you,” he said.

Hebron missed the cut in sixth, but senior Jasen Egolf (14th) continues on.

“I’m pretty pumped, I just hope I feel better by then, I had a rough race today,” he said.

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