By RICHIE HALL
Hamilton County is always in the conversation when it comes to the best cross country teams in the state, and this season will be no exception.
IndianaRunner.com, the respected website that reports on high school running, ranked six girls teams and six boys teams in its pre-season top 50.
First the girls: Going up the list, Guerin Catholic is ranked No. 24, Westfield is No. 23, Noblesville is No. 11 and Fishers is No. 6.
Carmel is ranked third, while Hamilton Southeastern is rated second. The website notes that the Royals have three runners back that placed in the top 20 in the Shelbyville semi-state, and those same three landed in the top 35 at the state meet: Senior Lulu Black (16th), sophomore Halle Hill (23rd) and senior Lilly Cummins (35th). Black and Hill were All-State runners.
Southeastern placed fifth at the state meet last year, and has added momentum this year with its girls track and field state championship. Black placed eighth in the 3200 run, while juniors Ellie Pedersen and Sam Alphin were part of HSE’s state qualifying 4×800 relay.
As for the Greyhounds, they have Phoebe Bates returning for her junior season. Bates placed second individually at state last year, behind Greencastle’s Emma Wilson. At the state track meet, the two stars traded state championships: Bates beat Wilson to win the 1600 run, then Wilson ran away with the 3200. Carmel does have several runners returning to back up Bates: Seniors Lindsey Roper and Izza Khurram and juniors Sydney Haines and Lily McAndrews.
The ‘Hounds and the Royals will see each other plenty during the regular season, including at the Hamilton County meet on Aug. 28. But they won’t meet during the post-season, as Southeastern and district-mate Fishers are being moved out of the Noblesville sectional.
The Royals and the Tigers are headed to the Pendleton Heights sectional. This isn’t a new alignment; in fact, Southeastern ran in the Arabians’ sectional for several years, and Fishers was in that sectional in 2006, the year the school re-opened. So the Royals and the Tigers are being moved back to their old stomping grounds after running in the local sectional (Carmel, then Noblesville) from 2007 to 2017.
The move also means a new route through the post-season. Those teams that get out of the Pendleton sectional move on to the regional at Delta, then the semi-state at New Haven. Qualifiers from the Noblesville sectional stay at Noblesville for the regional, then go to Shelbyville for the semi-state. It would be at New Haven where HSE and Fishers could meet IndianaRunner’s No. 1-ranked girls team, Fort Wayne Carroll. The Chargers blew through each level of the tournament before finishing second at state to Zionsville. The Eagles are No. 4 in IndianaRunner’s rankings, with West Lafayette rated fifth.
Fishers is sixth, and has five runners back from its state team. Senior Deborah Shera placed 29th to lead the way; other returning seniors are Teresa Kraft and Miya Wai, and juniors Abigail Carter and Emma Julien.
Noblesville just missed the state meet last year by four points, placing seventh at the semi-state. While the Millers graduated Abi Little to Indiana University, all six of their semi-state runners are back. That includes seniors Aubrey Swart and Aubrie Deal, juniors Sophie Reichard and Taylor Gregory, and sophomores Bella Sharples-Gordon and Sophie Stahl. Junior Anna Hazelrigg will be another key runner for Noblesville.
“It’s a fair ranking,” said Millers coach Dennis Scheele. “We’re better than we were last year.”
Scheele said his team ran a time trial on Wednesday to compare to last year, and said that all of his runners have improved.
“We had some girls really improve,” said Scheele. “We got some depth. I’m really excited about the year.”
Westfield also graduated a top runner in Gabby Dilick, but returns four sophomores that were part of a Shamrocks team that places seventh at the regional: Julia Clark, Ashley Baldwin, Ava Zellers and Sarah Coates all ran the regional as freshmen. Junior Kyla Curtis is back as well.
Guerin Catholic finished sixth in the sectional last year. The Golden Eagles have quite a bit of leadership returning in seniors Paige Schemanske, Ellie Schroeder and Izzy Museck. Schemanske and Schroeder both ran in the regional and semi-state as individuals, with sophomores Bea Perez and Raegan Bohbrink making it to the regional. Junior Nicole Powers also returns.
BOYS OUTLOOK
In the boys division, IndianaRunner ranks Carmel second on its pre-season list, with Fishers third.
The Greyhounds are the defending state champions, and while they graduated several seniors, there is always the expectation that Carmel will reload.
Among the returners with state experience are senior Calvin Bates and juniors Ben Miller and Will Murphy. Another junior, Ben Johnson, ran at the semi-state. The ‘Hounds are pre-season second to Cathedral, a team they would first meet in the regional level, with the Irish running in the Brebeuf Jesuit sectional.
Cathedral’s top returner is senior Cole Hocker, who was second at state last year to Southeastern’s Gabe Fendel, who triumphed in his senior year. Fendel is now at the University of Colorado.
The Tigers are third on the pre-season list and now first among New Haven semi-state teams. Fishers will be very experienced this year: While the Tigers graduated All-State runner Sam Kuhn, they have five seniors in the mix, including Ethan Meyer, who took 26th at state and just missed All-State honors.
Expect Meyer to be an All-State contender this season. Fellow seniors Alex Meyer, Thomas Brelage, and Quintin Goldman also ran at state last year, as did Will Clark, now a sophomore. Senior Dylan Arive will also be a key contributor.
Westfield is pre-season rated 19th, and will also be senior dominated. The Shamrocks just missed going to state last year, placing seventh at semi-state. Westfield’s returning lineup includes five seniors: Noah Douthit, Sam Novak, Max Gutwein, Gavin Clinkenbeard and Luke Tragesser. Sophomore Tyler Smith also returns.
Hamilton Southeastern is listed 23rd on IndianaRunner’s roster. While Fendel is a tough runner to replace, the Royals have a nice amount of experience. Senior Grant Wilson placed 19th at the Noblesville regional and joined Fendel in advancing to semi-state individually. Other seniors back are Brady Jarosinski, Eric Carothers and James Rathburn.
Noblesville is ranked 25th pre-season. The Millers finished eighth at the regional with a majority of freshmen, and they are now all sophomores with added experience: William Gregory, Andrew Anderson, Cole Kimmel and Travis Hickner. Seniors Blake Hipkiss and Nicholas Dombroski return, while senior Justin Amburgy had a solid track and field season.
“By mid-season I think we’ll be hitting on all cylinders,” said Noblesville coach Kent Graham. “Our goal is to be strong by the end of the season and work our way through the early meets.”
Guerin Catholic is 42nd on IndianaRunner’s pre-season list. The Golden Eagles do have one of the best runners in the state, senior Quinn Gallagher, who placed 16th at state and earned All-State honors.
Guerin was sixth at the sectional last season. Most everyone returns for GC, including seniors Joseph Barrett and JP Spoonmore, junior Weston Gingerich and sophomores Nicholas Schramm and Holden King.
A list of schedules for the cross country season now follows.
CARMEL
Aug. 18: at North Central Invitational, 9 a.m.
Aug. 28: County meet, 5:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 1: Marion Invitational, 8:30 a.m. at Indiana Wesleyan
Sept. 8: Eagle Classic, 8:30 a.m. at Brown County
Sept. 15: Flashrock Invitational, 9 a.m. at Northview Church
Sept. 22: MIC meet, 10 a.m. at North Central
Sept. 29: Nike Valley Twilight meet, 6:15 p.m. at Terre Haute
Oct. 2: at Warren Freshmen Invitational (boys), 5:15 p.m.
FISHERS
Aug. 18: Zionsville Invitational, 9 a.m. at Graham Martin Park
Aug. 22: Arabian Roundup (girls), 6 p.m. at Pendleton Heights
Aug. 25: at Noblesville Hokum Karem (boys), 8:30 a.m.
Aug. 28: County meet, 5:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 1: State Preview meet, 9 a.m. at Terre Haute
Sept. 8: Peoria Woodruff Invitational (boys), 9 a.m. at Detweiler Park, Ill.
Sept. 8: at Ben Davis Invitational (girls), 9:30 a.m.
Sept. 15: Flashrock Invitational, 9 a.m. at Northview Church
Sept. 18: JV meet at Hamilton Southeastern (girls), 5 p.m.
Sept. 22: HCC meet, 9 a.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 29: Twilight Meet, 6:15 p.m. at Terre Haute
GUERIN CATHOLIC
Aug. 18: Circle City Conference meet, 9 a.m. at Brebeuf Jesuit
Aug. 28: County meet, 5:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 1: State Preview meet, 9 a.m. at Terre Haute
Sept. 8: All-Catholic meet, 11 a.m. at Guerin Catholic
Sept. 15: Flashrock Invitational, 9 a.m. at Northview Church
Sept. 22: at Culver Academies Invite, 9 a.m.
HAMILTON HEIGHTS
Aug. 16: at Frankfort, 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 18: at Monroe Central Invitational, 11 a.m.
Aug. 25: at Rushville, 9 a.m.
Aug. 28: County meet, 5:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Aug. 30: Landes Invitational, 5:30 p.m. at Hamilton Heights
Sept. 6: at North Montgomery Invitational, 5 p.m.
Sept. 8: at Maconaquah Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 15: at Tipton Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 22: New Haven Invitational, 9 a.m. at IPFW
Sept. 29: Hoosier Conference meet, 9 a.m. at Lafayette Central Catholic
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN
Aug. 18: Southeastern Hokum Karem, 9 a.m.
Aug. 22: Arabian Roundup, 6 p.m. at Pendleton Heights
Aug. 28: County meet, 5:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 8: Wildcat Classic Invitational, 9 a.m. at Indiana Wesleyan
Sept. 15: Flashrock Invitational, 9 a.m. at Northview Church
Sept. 22: HCC meet, 9 a.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 29: Twilight meet, 6:15 p.m. at Terre Haute
NOBLESVILLE
Aug. 15: at Brown County Invitational (girls), 5:45 p.m.
Aug. 18: at Plainfield Relays (girls), 8:30 a.m.
Aug. 18: Zionsville Invitational (boys), 9 a.m. at Graham Martin Park
Aug. 21: at Harrison 8-Way Meet, 5 p.m.
Aug. 25: Noblesville Hokum Karem, 8:30 a.m.
Aug. 28: County meet, 5:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 1: Columbus North Classic (boys), 8:30 a.m. at CERAland Park
Sept. 1: Marion Invitational (girls), 8:30 a.m. at Indiana Wesleyan
Sept. 8: Wildcat Classic Invitational (boys), 8:30 a.m. at Indiana Wesleyan
Sept. 8: at Ben Davis Invitational (girls), 9 a.m.
Sept. 13: at Brebeuf Jesuit JV Invitational (boys), 5 p.m.
Sept. 15: Flashrock Invitational (boys), 9:30 a.m. at Northview Church
Sept. 15: at Crawford County Invitational (girls), 10 a.m.
Sept. 22: HCC meet, 10 a.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 29: Twilight meet (boys), 6:15 p.m. at Terre Haute
SHERIDAN
Aug. 25: Sheridan Invitational, 8 a.m.
Aug. 28: County meet, 5:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Aug. 30: Landes Invitational, 5:30 p.m. at Hamilton Heights
Sept. 6: at North Montgomery Invitational, 5 p.m.
Sept. 8: at Maconaquah Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 13: Tiger Invitational, 5 p.m. at Lebanon
Sept. 15: at Tipton Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 19: University and International, 5 p.m.
Sept. 22: at Shelbyville Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 25: Lafayette Central Catholic, 5 p.m.
Sept. 29: Hoosier Heartland Conference meet, 9 a.m. at Rossville
UNIVERSITY
Aug. 18: at Southwestern, 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 25: at Sheridan Invitational, 9 a.m.
Aug. 28: County meet, 5:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Aug. 30: Landes Invitational, 5:30 p.m. at Hamilton Heights
Sept. 4: at Tri-West (with Clinton Central), 5 p.m.
Sept. 8: at Elwood Big Cat Invite, 10 a.m.
Sept. 13: Tiger Invitational, 5 p.m. at Lebanon
Sept. 15: at Tipton Invitational, 9 a.m.
Sept. 19: at Sheridan (with International), 5 p.m.
Sept. 22: Pioneer Conference meet, noon at Seton Catholic
Oct. 2: University Invitational, 5 p.m.
WESTFIELD
Aug. 11: at Terre Haute South Valley Kickoff, 9 a.m.
Aug. 18: at Plainfield Hokum Karem (boys), 8:30 a.m.
Aug. 18: Zionsville Invitational (girls), 9 a.m. at Graham Martin Park
Aug. 25: Franklin Central Invite, at Shelbyville (time TBA)
Aug. 28: County meet, 5:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 1: State Preview meet, 9 a.m. at Terre Haute
Sept. 8: Eagle Classic, 8:30 a.m. at Brown County
Sept. 8: Wildcat Classic Invitational, 9 a.m. at Indiana Wesleyan
Sept. 15: Flashrock Invitational, 9 a.m. at Northview Church
Sept. 22: HCC meet, 10 a.m. at Noblesville
Oct. 2: at North Central JV Invite, 5 p.m.
Carmel’s Phoebe Bates finished second at the cross country state meet last season. Bates, now a junior, will lead a Greyhounds team that is ranked third in IndianaRunner.com’s pre-season girls poll. (Kent Graham/File photo)