EC's Bentley Caps Off Incredible Career, Batesville's Wade Shines in First Season

The IHSAA Cross Country State Finals took place on Saturday.

Callie Bentley (left) and Ava Wade (right) represented southeastern Indiana at the IHSAA Cross Country State Finals. Photos provided.

TERRE HAUTE - One incredible career is coming to an end while another is just blossoming. 

East Central senior Callie Bentley and Batesville freshman Ava Wade represented their schools and southeastern Indiana at the IHSAA Cross Country State Finals on Saturday in Terre Haute. 

For Bentley, it was her fourth time competing at state. Her entire team made the trip with her to Terre Haute to see Bentley finish 82nd out of 250 runners. She finished with a time of 19:15.1. 

Bentley will go down in history as one of the top runners in East Central High School history. She is the school record holder with a time of 18:07, a three-time EIAC champ, and a three-time sectional champ. Bentley also placed in the Top 10 in the Regional each of her four years. She accomplished all of this while taking advanced classes. 

Bentley will continue her running career at Butler after graduation.  

Ava Wade is perhaps on her way to having a Bentley-type high school career. Qualifying for the State Finals as a freshman, Wade ran a great race on Saturday, placing 33rd overall (18:26). That time was the third fastest in the state for a freshman and her second-best time of her young career. 

Wade qualified for the State Finals by finishing 5th at the Regional. She was a Sectional Champion this year, finishing ahead of Bentley at Rushville.