Cross country: Laying it on the line

Noblesville’s Nadia Perez was part of the Millers girls cross country regional champion team last Saturday. Noblesville will compete at the Shelbyville semi-state on Saturday at Blue River Park. (Kent Graham)

Noblesville, Carmel, Guerin Catholic, Westfield, Fishers & HSE all seek to triumph at semi-state

The IHSAA cross country tournament has reached the semi-state round, and local teams are ready to race on Saturday with a trip to the state finals on the line.

Hamilton County teams will be divided among two semi-state sites. The Noblesville, Carmel and Guerin Catholic girls teams, and the Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield boys teams will travel to Shelbyville’s Blue River Park for that semi-state. Meanwhile, the Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern boys and girls teams are headed to Indiana Wesleyan University for the New Haven semi-state. Racing begins at 10:30 a.m. at both places.

The top six teams at each semi-state will advance to the IHSAA state finals, which take place Oct. 28 in Terre Haute.

Here is a look at the teams (with regional scores) and top runners that will compete at each of the semi-states.

AT SHELBYVILLE

Feeder regionals: Ben Davis, Noblesville, Rushville, Franklin Community.

Ben Davis

Top five boys teams: Zionsville 28, Brownsburg 72, Avon 109, Plainfield 120, Perry Meridian 132.

The Eagles had all seven of their runners place in the top nine. Plainfield’s Emerson Nehring was the race winner in 15 minutes, 30.3 seconds, followed by Brownsburg’s Ian Baker in second (15:48.6). Zionsville had runners place in positions 3, 4 and 6 through 9, with Avon’s Samuel Clore taking fifth.

Top five girls teams: Zionsville 30, Brownsburg 70, Avon 78, Southport 90, Plainfield 110.

Zionsville’s girls were just as dominant as the boys, with five of the top 10 runners. Avon’s Jessica Hegedus was the race winner in 18:08.1, with Plainfield’s Veronica Hargrave placing second in 18:25.8.

Noblesville

Top five boys teams: Carmel 38, Noblesville 66, Brebeuf Jesuit 83, Westfield 126, Bishop Chatard 126.

The Greyhounds were led by a 1-2 punch of Kole Mathison and Tony Provenzano. Mathison finished the race in 14:57.0, while Provenzano was close behind at 15:01.8. The top 13 runners all went under 16 minutes.

In addition to the teams, three county individuals will run in the semi-state: Guerin Catholic’s Luke Moster and Ethan Hines, and Hamilton Heights’ Steven Case.

Top five girls teams: Noblesville 50, North Central 92, Carmel 94, Bishop Chatard 139, Guerin Catholic 148.

The Millers had a sensational race, with their top six runners all finishing in the top 14 and going under 18:45. Guerin Catholic’s Bridget Gallagher was the county’s top runner, placing fourth in 17:38.9. Bishop Chatard senior Lily Cridge dominated the race, finishing in 16:46.0.

Westfield will have three individuals running at semi-state: Sydney Klinglesmith, Liz Smith and Robyn Schemel.

Rushville

Top five boys teams: Franklin Central 37, Greenfield-Central 62, Mount Vernon 65, Northeastern 118, Richmond 122.

The Flashes closed the scoring early by taking four of the top eight positions. Mount Vernon did have the race winner, as senior Tristan Trevino crossed the finish line in 15:33.5.

Top five girls teams: Franklin Central 20, Roncalli 77, Mount Vernon 85, Centerville 95, New Castle 153.

The FC girls swept the top three positions, led by race-winner Savana Miler. The sophomore placed first in 19:19.2.

Franklin Community

Top five boys teams: Indian Creek 75, Center Grove 96, Milan 104, Franklin Community 106, Mooresville 121.

Mooresville had the top two runners; senior Nathan Burns ran away with the individual championship in 15:42.7.

Top five girls scores: East Central 45, Batesville 70, Indian Creek 90, Franklin Community 93, Center Grove 109.

East Central had five of the top 14 places, while Indian Creek’s Libby Dowty was the individual winner in 18:22.5.

AT INDIANA WESLEYAN

Feeder regionals: Elkhart, West Noble, Marion, Delta.

Elkhart

Top five boys teams: Northridge 45, Penn 74, Goshen 88, South Bend Adams 123, Elkhart 141.

Mishawaka sophomore William Bauschke was the race winner in 15:45, 19 seconds ahead of second place.

Top five girls teams: Penn 33, Northridge 50, NorthWood 120, Mishawaka 127, South Bend Adams 154.

Penn had five of the top 12 runners, including race-winner Mary Eubank (18:50). Northridge took positions 2-3-4.

West Noble

Top five boys teams: Concordia Lutheran 63, Fort Wayne Carroll 110, West Noble 115, Leo 131, Angola 138.

Westview freshman Noah Bontrager easily won the individual championship in 15:45. Just like Bauschke, he also was 19 seconds ahead of second place.

Top five girls teams: Homestead 39, Concordia Lutheran 64, Fort Wayne Carroll 77, East Noble 110, Fort Wayne Northrop 133.

Homestead had four of the top eight runners, led by junior Addison Knoblauch, the race-winner in 18:37.

Marion

Top five boys teams: Wabash 61, Oak Hill 70, Bluffton 101, Norwell 121, Bellmont 134.

Oak Hill had the top two runners, led by race-winner Owen Jackson, who clocked in at 16:18.2.

Top five girls teams: Norwell 68, Adams Central 100, Huntington North 109, Eastbrook 120, Fort Wayne South Side 130.

Fort Wayne Canterbury senior Anya Ramrakhiani was the race winner in 19:43.8.

Delta

Top five boys teams: Fishers 26, Hamilton Southeastern 62, Wapahani 73, Pendleton Heights 127, Yorktown 170.

The Tigers had an outstanding meet, placing five runners in the top 10. That included the 1-2 combo of sophomore Sam Quagliaroli (15:40) and senior Tate Meaux (15:52). The Royals had two runners in the top 11, senior Joseph Augustine (16:43) and freshman Zeke Benedict (16:52).

Top five girls teams: Hamilton Southeastern 53, Pendleton Heights 74, Fishers 77, Monroe Central 117, Yorktown 136.

The Royals placed five runners in the top 17, led by senior Jacqueline Hurlock in eighth place (20:07), Tigers freshman Abby Lotter finished sixth (19:56). Delta junior Nicki Southerland won the race in 17:05, over a minute and a half ahead of second place.