After two months and many miles of running, it’s time for the IHSAA cross country state finals.
The best runners in Indiana will travel to the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute on Saturday for the state finals. The girls will run first, with their race at noon. After the awards presentation, the boys meet will take place, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Here is a look at the qualifying teams from each semi-state, including the top six teams advancing from each site.
NEW PRAIRIE
Top six girls scores: Valparaiso 105, Morgan Township 129, Warsaw 144, Maconaquah 172, Lake Central 178, Crown Point 180.
The Vikings were led by two senior runners that finished in the top 10: Cheyanne Stock, who placed second (18 minutes, 38.4 seconds) and Grace Thomas, who finished eighth (19:18.9). In the team scoring, Stock and Thomas scored one and three points respectively, which allowed Valpo to overcome a strong challenge from runner-up Morgan Township.
New Prairie senior Lillian Zelasko was the race winner, clocking in with a time of 18:03.1.
Top six boys scores: Chesterton 91, Valparaiso 127, Lake Central 159, West Lafayette 162, Warsaw 183, La Porte 187.
The Trojans’ top two runners placed fifth (senior Jackson Tuck, 16:25.8) and sixth (junior Evan O’Connor, 16:27.2), with two more finishing in the top 16. The scoring for those runners was 3-4-12-14, and that gave Chesterton a comfortable margin.
Valpo was second as a team, but had the individual champion. Senior James Dillabaugh won the race in 16:07.8.
NEW HAVEN
Top six girls scores: Homestead 79, Penn 90, Hamilton Southeastern 109, East Noble 119, Fort Wayne Carroll 125, Concordia Lutheran 142.
The Spartans’ top two runners placed in the top eight, with junior Addison Knooblauch running a 17:19.8 to take second. Senior Elise Peckinpaugh finished in eighth. The two runners scored one and seven points, making Homestead the only team to have two runners score in single digits. Penn’s front five runners all scored under 30 points (including three from junior Mary Eubank, who placed fourth overall), but two more Spartans runners scored 15 and 16 points (placing 18th and 19th), and that was enough for Homestead to get the win.
The race winner was Delta junior Nicki Southerland, who cruised to victory in 17:05.6.
Southeastern’s girls placed third as a team with junior Maggie Powers leading the way. Powers placed fifth in 18:23.9, and scored four points. The Royals other runners scored 17-23-31-34 points, giving them enough for the bronze.
Top six boys scores: Fishers 79, Northridge 84, Hamilton Southeastern 120, Penn 161, Concordia Lutheran 176, Goshen 196.
The Tigers edged out Northridge with consistency across the board. Sophomore Sam Quagliaroli’s seventh-place finish (15:56.6) scored seven points for Fishers, then senior Tate Meaux (16th place), junior Matthew Kim (18th place) and senior Austin Wilson (20th place) scored 12-13-14 respectively.
Northridge had two runners scored in double digits, including two points from freshman Baylor Miller (who placed fourth overall). But a big difference was in the No. 4 runner, where Fishers outscored Northridge 14-25.
Southeastern was led by senior Ash Caylor, who took ninth place with a time of 16:00.0. The Royals had all of their front five runners score under 40 points of the win.
Westview freshman Noah Bontrager was the race winner in a time of 15:20.8.
SHELBYVILLE
Top six girls scores: Noblesville 68, North Central 82, Carmel 107, Guerin Catholic 192, Zionsville 205, East Central 220.
Noblesville won its first-ever semi-state championship with an outstanding effort from all seven runners.
The Millers had all of their top six runners finish in the top 23, which translated into the following scores: 9-11-15-16-17-18. The 18 points for sixth place don’t count in the total, but that is significant because it means another team can’t pick up those points. In a semi-state meet, 18 points for a runner is a considerably low score. Junior Kennedy Applegate led the Millers by placing 12th (18:41.4).
Carmel also had a consistent day, with senior Jasmine Klopstad leading the Greyhounds by placing 13th (18:52.6). Carmel had all seven of their runners finish in the top 44 overall, which led to them all scoring under 35 points.
Guerin Catholic advanced to state with Bridget Gallagher leading the way. The senior finished fourth overall in a time of 17:58.0, and scored two team points. The other Golden Eagles all ran consistenly well, and that was more than enough to earn a trip to Terre Haute.
The race winner was Bishop Chatard senior Lily Cridge, who finished the race in 16:58.6, her second straight week under 17 minutes. Cridge and Southerland will be an individual race to watch.
Top six boys scores: Carmel 67, Zionsville 74, Center Grove 83, Noblesville 129, Brebeuf Jesuit 163, Franklin Central 201.
The Greyhounds’ top-two combination of senior Kole Mathison and junior Tony Pronvezano proved to be big for Carmel once again on Saturday. Mathison won the race in a time of 14:56.1, while Provenzano was third in 15:07.6. The top seven runners were all on participating teams, so that means Mathison and Provenzano scored one and three points respectively. After that, the ‘Hounds had their next three runners score 13, 22 and 28 points, which would be enough to outlast the Eagles.
Noblesville had two runners score in double digits. Asher Propst placed sixth in 15:31.2, while Caden Click took ninth place in 15:39.9; Click scored eight points for the Millers, and the other Noblesville runners all finished well to clinch a place at state.
Two Guerin Catholic individuals will compete at the boys state meet. Senior Ethan Hines placed 13th and sophomore Luke Moster finished 31st.
BROWN COUNTY
Top six girls scores: Columbus North 58, Bloomington South 110, Floyd Central 140, Northview 143, Princeton 168, Corydon Central 171.
The Bull Dogs wrapped up the team championship quickly, with three runners in the top seven. The top nine runners were all on participating teams, so that means Columbus North went 1-2-7 for its first three scores. Seniors Julia Kiesler (17:17.3) and Lily Baker (17:53.4) were 1-2 for the Bull Dogs.
Top six boys scores: Columbus North 55, Floyd Central 117, Bloomington South 127, Bloomington North 131, Jasper 208, Evansville Reitz 223.
The Bull Dogs’ boys team was just as dominant as the girls, with three runners in the top 10, placing third, fourth and ninth respectively. The top 11 were on participating teams.
New Albany senior Aidan Lord won the race in a time of 15:21.1.