Delta Cross Country delivered a stellar performance at the Nike XC Town Twilight Invitational held on
Friday night October 3, 2025, at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course in Terre Haute. The
legendary State Finals course for Indiana hosted schools from all over the state, as well as teams from
neighboring states in the midwest. Cross country runners come to compete "under the lights" in an
incredibly exciting and adrenaline-filled atmosphere. While consistently well-maintained, the course has
significant rolling hills and little of it is a straight line - runners are constantly navigating the curves of the
course, as well as large packs of competitors. The Delta boys and girls teams each had notable
achievements that reflect both individual excellence and continued team growth.
Along with construction and multiple traffic jams due to accidents, a few of the teams arrived with less
than ideal timelines to warm up for the race. However, the Delta boys kept their composure,
demonstrated exceptional mental focus and efficient race preparation, and stepped up to the line locked
in on the task at hand.
In a sport where seconds can feel like eternities and places are earned with sweat, speed, and sheer
willpower, the Delta boys delivered a performance that will echo through the program's history books.
The raw data reveals the magnitude of Delta's achievement: the boys's team moved up 11 places and
improved by 46% from last year's performance. Their 2nd place finish out of 45 teams wasn't just an
improvement - it was a declaration.
At the front of the Eagles' pack was Peyton Engle (JR), who set a quick pace from the beginning and
relentlessly picked off competitors throughout the entirety of the race. His 12th place finish out of 311
competitors in 16:55.9 set the tone, and less than a minute later, all five scoring Delta runners were
through the finish line. Trailing closely behind Engle was Nolan Hutchison (JR), coming in at 17:12.3 for
24th place, and less than a second off of his personal best. The final three point scoring positions came
from Carter Friend (JR), Cameron Deckman (SR), and Noah Parrott (SR) in 43rd, 45th, and 46th,
respectively. While none of the three set personal bests, they demonstrated the kind of successful pack
running that embodies the team's motto of "Better Together".
Crossing the line as the team's first "displacer", or 6th place runner, was Gideon Sherck (FR) in 162nd,
setting a new personal best by 8 seconds with a gutsy 19:35.9 performance. Less than a second away
from setting a personal best of his own was Luke Huston (SR) in 194th with a time of 20:13.1. Two
emerging sophomores, Tyler Hawk and Cameron Pettiford, showcased remarkable determination
throughout the race, effectively rounding out the team's roster for the day. Hawk finished 236th with a
time of 21:25.1, and Pettiford finished 278th in a time of 23:18.6, each outkicking a competitor to the
line.
The girls showed their own brand of determination, finishing just 6 points behind the next team - a slim
margin in a race of this size. Despite having only two returning athletes with experience competing in
the previous year's large race, the girls team improved their team placement by approximately 25%
compared to the girls' team finishes in years past. In addition, as team scores were updated as
individual runners crossed mile markers, the group improved their point score at every checkpoint.

Confidently leading the group was Everly Carter with a time of 21:43.0, earning her a 52nd place finish
overall. Fellow sophomore Ella Ewing came in third for the girls team, finished 140th overall, and set a
new season best time of 24:07.0, shaving 5 seconds off of her previous time.
The freshman class announced their contribution in spectacular fashion. As Delta's second, fourth, and
fifth finishers, Gabby Gruwell, Arionna Segraves, and Chloe Childers collectively exemplified the team's
drive for improvement. Gruwell clocked 22:58.0 in 105th place - just shy of her personal best by less
than two seconds. Segraves delivered a standout performance with a stunning 26-second personal
best drop to 25:20.4 for 171st place, while Childers finished closely behind in 177th with a time of
25:40.7. Gruwell, Segraves, and Childers all improved their individual placement throughout the race,
moving up 11, 20, and 16 places respectively.
While not a freshman, first year and sophomore runner Katelyn Preston followed the freshmen girls'
lead and also worked her way up 11 places on her way to the finish, earning her a 191st place finish,
and a time of 26:25.9 - just three seconds off her personal best! She claimed Delta's sixth place varsity
spot. Together, these efforts showcased the young team's determination to excel on challenging
courses against fierce competition.
Looking ahead, the team is eager to build on their impressive performances at LaVern Gibson and
continue their upward trajectory a bit closer to home. Both the Eagle Invitational (10/11/25), and the
Sectional (10/18/25) will be hosted by Delta and held at the Taylor University Cross Country Course.
Boys will race at 10:30am and girls at 11:10am for both meets. Spectators are encouraged to come out
and cheer on the Delta teams as they strive for even greater success in the coming weeks!