This season could be a special one for the Fishers girls cross country team.
Coach Beth Janhs gives two reasons why.
“We have the largest team in school history with 76 runners,” said Jahns. “The Lady Tigers are returning everyone in the top 12 from last season.”
All this has made people sit up and take notice. IndianaRunner.com listed Fishers fourth in its pre-season Top 50 rankings, calling the Tigers a “possible, if not probable podium team.” The top five teams at the state meet get medals, and a chance to stand on the celebrated podium at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course in Terre Haute.
The Tigers finished eighth at the state meet last season. Junior Miya Wai led the way by placing 35th at Terre Haute. Her best time of the year was at the Shelbyville semi-state, where she clocked in at 18:21. Wai kept up the pace during the track and field meet, culminating in a third-place state finish in the 3200 run.
Junior Tessa Kraft and sophomore Abby Carter both ran solid at state last season, taking 59th and 61st respectively. Carter ran a PR of 5:06 in the 1600 run during her track season.
Senior Kamya Lapsley also ran for the Tigers at state, and followed that up with a strong track season, finishing sixth in the state in the 800 run and fourth as part of the 4×400 relay.
Seniors Corinne O’Leary and Liz Rogers also competed at state cross country last season, along with sophomore Corinne Yorkman. Kraft (18:50) and Yorkman (18:53) both have personal bests under 19 minutes, while O’Leary and Rogers are close, each running 19:04.
As for other runners to look out for, Jahns named juniors Debbie Shera and Elinor Carmona, and sophomores Emma Gillespie and Lilia Bodnar.
ROSTER
Seniors: Abby Celentano, Libby Cooper, Laura Godleski, Charis Greiwe, Kamya Lapsley, Gillian McCann, Corinne O’Leary, Alex Osmun, London Osmun, Sawyer Osmun, Makayla Pruett, Emily Pulos, Clarissa Ricks, Liz Rogers, Olivia Strobel, Haley Thomas, Natalia Turben.
Juniors: Elinor Carmona, Neva Carter, Nina Dillard, Renata Garcia, Jolie Jensen, Erin Johnson, Tessa Kraft, Kate Legge, Meghan Leppert, Grace May, Cora Mizimakoski, Caroline Riebe, Margaret Saul, Claire Schnefke, Natalie Segura, Debbie Shera, Alisha Shultz, Hannah Simkins, Emily Sorg, Miya Wai.
Sophomores: Lillia Bodnar, Abby Carter, Kana Clavijo, Mia Contino, Emma Gillespie, Sarah Hauser, Ellie Hevesy, Haley Jordan, Emma Julien, Arianna Kelley, Gabby Lewis, Shannon Luce, Kerrigan Rush, Kylee Scarlett, Logan Sorrell, Emma Stuber, Corinne Yorkman.
Freshmen: Audrey Abbott, Evelyn Butler, Riley Clayton, Milan Colzani, Emma Culwell, Ellie Gaffin, Riley Gearhart, Meghan Gibson, Emma Giger, Paige Hallbauer, Libby Hayes, Georgia Horn, Taylor Ingram, Claire Nation, Kate Pfeifer, Haley Rader, Kayla Rizzotte, Sarah Schultz, Rebekah Shultz, Bailey Stewart, Sam Turben, Brynn Urban, Mia Yates.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 19: Zionsville Invitational, 9 a.m. at Graham Martin Park
Aug. 23: at Pendleton Heights, 4:30 p.m.
Aug. 29: County meet, 4:30 p.m. at Noblesville
Sept. 2: State Preview, 9 a.m. at Terre Haute
Sept. 9: at Ben Davis Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
Sept. 16: Flashrock Invitational, 9 a.m. at Northview Church
Sept. 23: at Delta Invitational, 10 a.m.
Sept. 30: HCC meet, 9:30 a.m. at Noblesville
Fishers’ Miya Wai finished 35th at the state girls cross country meet last season, and is one of all seven state runners that return for the Tigers. (Kent Graham/File photo)