CULVER – It’s almost seems like they’re drawing straws. And all of the straws are the same length.

Warsaw constructed its Iron Seven with three of its regulars again sitting, and still had no trouble demolishing the field at the Culver Academy Girls Cross Country Regional. Without the services of sectional champion Allison Miller, along with seniors Brooke Rhodes and Emma Hayward – all being given Saturday off to rest – Warsaw put six of its seven in the top 11 to score 25 points, a full 67 points ahead of runner-up Manchester.

The remarkable note of Warsaw’s dominance Saturday was its top three in the regional all sat out the sectional. Mia Beckham used a tremendous burst midway through the race to pull away from everyone to win the regional title going away at 18:53, her first career tournament win. Anna Craig rallied from running with the back half of the top 10 for much of the first half of the race, only to zip up to second place by her lonesome at 19:17. Hannah Dawson came in seventh at 19:43, giving all three runners their best runs on the Culver Academy course.

Beckham’s run was notable after the Beckham family lost its home to a fire earlier in the week. Saturday’s race was a chance to take a couple hours off from reality.

“My team and school were really good about it, helping with school supplies and stuff,” Beckham said about her week. “My team has been there for me, helping me through everything. Some of the girls have gone through it. Some of them knew what I went through, and that helped a lot. I could focus on this knowing they were there to help.”

A trio of Lady Tigers claimed places 10-12 in Claire Kehler (20:09), Charlene Orr (20:12) and Mallory Hooks (20:14) and Lauren Orr finished at 21:01 to wrap up Warsaw’s blitzkrieg.

Warsaw wins its fourth regional title in the past five years, heading into the New Prairie Semi-state next week as one of the favorites as head coach Scott Erba noted the normal lineup should be plenty rested and ready to go.

Triton’s Baylee McIntire will also be working at New Prairie after sliding in tenth among individuals to qualify at Culver. McIntire sprinted in at 20:51, split between Maconaquah’s Madison Winegardner and the Academy’s Stephanie Ma, but in just the right spot to run next week. McIntire, a sophomore, also made the semi-state a year ago. Teammate Abigail Powell ran her first regional and clocked in at 25:32.

Tippecanoe Valley had three runners in play, led by Karly Kitch’s 21:49 with Breelyn Conley at 24:13 and Brooklyn Conley at 25:08.

Miah Martin of Lewis Cass (19:31), Cami Hansen of Taylor (19:37), Claire Collins of Winamac (19:39), Isabelle Crain of Logansport (20:00), Madison Kiser of Pioneer (20:22), Kelsey Tyler of Rochester (20:23), Adrianna Dague of Caston (20:33), Mary Terhune of Culver Academy (20:37), Rachel Crawford of Plymouth (20:50), and McIntire all advanced as individuals.

Manchester at 92, Western (119), Northwestern (141) and Maconaquah (145) all advance to semi-state as teams.

The teams and individuals from Culver Academy will move to New Prairie’s semi-state, considered by many as the toughest and most balanced in the state. Feeding into the semi-state with Academy are Crown Point, Harrison (West Lafayette) and New Prairie regionals.