As usual, Hamilton County will be well-represented at this year’s IHSAA state cross country meet, which takes place Saturday at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute.
The girls will race first on the 5,000-meter course, with their race starting at 1 p.m. The boys will be next in line, beginning their race at 1:45 p.m.
Four county girls teams will be racing, three of which are making a return trip from last season. Carmel will be competing for the 38th time, continuing their record of perfect attendance at the state meet. Noblesville is back at state for the first time since 2016; both came out of the Shelbyville semi-state. Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern also qualified, each earning a spot out of the New Haven semi-state.
Hamilton Heights will also have a runner at state, with sophomore Maria Mitchell competing at state for the first time.
In the boys race, Carmel will appear at state for the 43rd time, advancing out of Shelbyville. Fishers, the champion of the New Haven semi-state, is back at state for the fifth year in a row and Hamilton Southeastern also qualified out of New Haven.
Two boys individuals are also in the race: Guerin Catholic senior Quinn Gallagher and Noblesville sophomore Travis Hickner.
Twenty-four full teams and 40 more individuals who qualified without their squad (208 runners each race) will compete in each race over the 5,000 meter course with a reputation as one of the finest in the nation. Here’s a list of notables from the IHSAA.
Defending Boys Team Champion
The Carmel boys team is making its state record-extending 43rd consecutive appearance at the state finals and stands as the defending state champion after winning its second title in three years in 2017. This year’s Greyhounds are ranked third in the final state coaches poll after a runner-up finish to top-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral at the Shelbyville Semi-State last Saturday. Cathedral, which has won a championship each weekend this tournament so far, is looking for its first cross country crown. It’s previous best finish was third place in 1960.
Boys Individual Champion
A new boys individual state champion is assured as Hamilton Southeastern’s Gabe Fendel has graduated after winning the 2017 state title.
Defending Girls Team Champion
Third-ranked Zionsville is the defending team champion after capturing the school’s first title a year ago and is a prime contender again having won a title at each stop this tournament. Top-ranked Fort Wayne Carroll, the state runner-up each of the last three years and also winner each weekend of this tournament, is looking to score its first state crown on Saturday.
Defending Girls Individual Champion
Greencastle senior Emma Wilson is the defending state champion after running away with the title a year ago by nearly 15 seconds. Wilson has comfortably won each tournament race up to this point and would become the first back-to-back girls winner since Culver Academies’ Alex Banfich won three in a row from 2005-07.
GIRLS NOTABLES
Former Girls State Champions in the Field
Emma Wilson (12) Greencastle, 2017.
Girls Teams Participating (24)
Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Brebeuf Jesuit, Carmel, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Chesterton, Columbus North, Crown Point, Edgewood, Evansville Memorial, Fishers, Floyd Central, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Franklin Central, Hamilton Southeastern, Homestead, Lowell, Noblesville, Penn, Pike, Valparaiso, Warsaw, West Lafayette, Zionsville.
Girls Teams Returning from 2017 (20 of 24)
Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Brebeuf Jesuit, Carmel, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Chesterton, Columbus North, Crown Point, Edgewood, Evansville Memorial, Fishers, Floyd Central, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Hamilton Southeastern, Homestead, Lowell, Penn, Valparaiso, West Lafayette, Zionsville.
Most Consecutive Girls Team Appearances
38 by Carmel, 1981-present.
Active Streaks of Girls Team Appearances
(Three or more years)
38: Carmel. 15: Carroll (Fort Wayne). 12: Bloomington South, Columbus North. 9: West Lafayette. 8: Penn. 7: Homestead. 6: Floyd Central, Zionsville. 5: Valparaiso. 4: Bloomington North, Fishers. 3: Evansville Memorial, Lowell.
Girls Team Appearance Droughts Broken (10 or more years)
31 years: Pike (1987).
Girls First Team Appearance (0)
None
Girls Semi-State Individual Champions
Annalyssa Crain (10) Edgewood
Meagan Hathaway (12) Carroll (Fort Wayne)
Mary Schultz (12) West Lafayette
Emma Wilson (12) Greencastle
Girls Sectional Champions: Barr Reeve, Batesville, Bloomington North, Brownsburg, Carmel, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Center Grove, Columbus North, Crown Point, Delta, Elkhart Memorial, Evansville Memorial, Floyd Central, Forest Park, Franklin Central, Hamilton Southeastern, Jennings County, Morgan Township, Munster, Norwell, Oak Hill, Penn, Pike, Rushville, Terre Haute South Vigo, Twin Lakes, Valparaiso, Warsaw, West Lafayette, West Noble, Western, Zionsville.
Girls Regional Champions: Bloomington North, Brebeuf Jesuit, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Center Grove, Chesterton, Columbus North, Evansville Memorial, Fishers, Floyd Central, Lowell, New Palestine, Oak Hill, Penn, Warsaw, West Lafayette, Zionsville.
Girls Semi-State Champions: Bloomington North, Carroll (Fort Wayne), West Lafayette, Zionsville.
BOYS NOTABLES
Former Boys State Champions in the Field
None.
Boys Teams Participating (24)
Avon, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Carmel, Columbus North, Crown Point, Fishers, Floyd Central, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, Franklin Community, Hamilton Southeastern, Harrison (West Lafayette), Highland, Homestead, Indianapolis Cathedral, Jennings County, Lowell, North Central (Indianapolis), Tell City, Valparaiso, West Lafayette, West Noble, Westview, Zionsville.
Boys Teams Returning from 2017 (18 of 24)
Avon, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Carmel, Columbus North, Crown Point, Fishers, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, Indianapolis Cathedral, Jennings County, Lowell, North Central (Indianapolis), Tell City, Valparaiso, West Lafayette, West Noble, Westview, Zionsville.
Most Consecutive Boys Team Appearances
43 by Carmel, 1976-present.
Active Streaks of Boys Team Appearances (Three or more years)
43: Carmel. 12: Columbus North. 11: Valparaiso. 7: Bloomington North, West Lafayette. 6: Crown Point. 5: Avon, Fishers. 4: Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, Lowell, Tell City, Westview. 3: Jennings County, Zionsville.
Boys Team Appearance Droughts Broken (10 or more years)
45 years: Highland (1973) 11: Franklin Community (2007) 10: Floyd Central
First Boys Team Appearance
Harrison (West Lafayette)
Boys Semi-State Individual Champions
Caleb Futter (12) Christian Academy of Indiana
Jesse Hamlin (12) Fort Wayne Snider
Cole Hocker (12) Indianapolis Cathedral
Gabriel Sanchez (11) Lowell
Boys Sectional Champions: Batesville, Bellmont, Bloomington North, Brownsburg, Carmel, Columbus North, Elkhart Memorial, Evansville F.J. Reitz, Fishers, Floyd Central, Franklin Community, Gibson Southern, Harrison (West Lafayette), Highland, Homestead, Indianapolis Cathedral, Jennings County, Kankakee Valley, Logansport, Lowell, New Palestine, Northview, Penn, Rushville, Seeger, Tell City, Valparaiso, Wabash, Warsaw, Westview, Yorktown, Zionsville.
Boys Regional Champions: Avon, Bloomington South, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Chesterton, Columbus North, Crown Point, Elkhart Memorial, Evansville F.J. Reitz, Fishers, Floyd Central, Franklin Community, Indianapolis Cathedral, New Palestine, Wabash, Warsaw, West Lafayette, Zionsville.
Boys Semi-State Champions: Bloomington South, Fishers, Indianapolis Cathedral, Valparaiso.